'River of mud' causes evacuations in northern France May 24, 2024

'River of mud' in France

By Agence France Presse

'River of mud' causes evacuations in northern France

A “river of mud” unleashed by a sudden storm has flooded dozens of homes in northern France, prompting evacuations, authorities said Wednesday.

The 20-minute “deluge” hit villages in the east of the Somme department, not far from the Belgian border, on Tuesday night, local government chief Stephane Haussoulier told AFP.

The storm caused major landslides in some places and unleashed a “river of mud” in the worst-hit village of Sailly-Laurette, he added.

Sixteen vehicles were swept away in Sailly-Laurette, which lies on the banks of the River Somme. Eleven houses were flooded, some roads were destroyed and 24 people were evacuated, said Haussoulier.

On Wednesday, residents were clearing a thick layer of mud from their streets and gardens, according to an AFP journalist.

At least 10 other villages in the east of the Somme have been affected by landslides.

Videos posted on social media showed streams of mud pouring down the streets of several municipalities.

In some places, it completely covered the wheels of cars struggling to move forward.

The flooding “caused material damage to around 100 homes,” the prefecture of the Somme department said in a statement.

It added that firefighters had responded to 83 calls.

Earlier this month, a 57-year-old woman died in a landslide in Courmelles, about 100 kilometers south of Sailly-Laurette.

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