THE bad weather which affect the north of France have caused the death of two people, announces Bertrand Gaume, prefect of Hauts-de-France, interviewed on France Info this Thursday, January 9. A fatal fall occurred on a slippery sidewalk in Croix, near Lille, and a homeless East deceased of hypothermia in the Valenciennois sector.
Ten departments on orange alert
Météo-France extended orange vigilance this Thursday morning to ten departments. Deux-Sèvres and Vendée are affected by a risk of flooding, while the Somme will be placed on snow-ice alert from 10 p.m. The Nord and Pas-de-Calais, already under snow-ice alert, should come out of the alert temporarily at midday before returning to it this evening.
Snow also fell this Thursday morning in the north of the Oise department, clinging to the road and making the roadway slippery in places.
Risks of flooding in the Oise
This Thursday, January 9, the Oise went into orange alert for the risk of flooding, particularly around the Dive, Météo France announced. The prefect of Oise also announces that the risk of “light floods and runoff is high in the west of the department, along the EPte and Thérain. Roads and cellars may be flooded, runoff is possible or underway in certain municipalities in the department, announces the prefecture.
A firefighter intervention is currently taking place in Grandvilliers.
Power outages in several municipalities
In addition to difficult traffic, bad weather also caused power cuts in the areas of Arras, Béthune, Lens and Calais. Around 1,000 homes are currently without power, according to a report sent by the Hauts-de-France prefecture.
Transportation disrupted
Faced with these conditions, school transport and intercity bus lines remain suspended this Thursday in certain departments, but no longer in Oise. The SNCF also announced cancellations of regional express trains (TER) and disruptions on lines in northern Hauts-de-France.
A call for caution
The authorities remind residents to be extra vigilant, particularly on roads and sidewalks, where snow and ice persist. The emergency services remain mobilized in the face of this situation which is paralyzing the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais mainly.
