Human consequences
53 deaths in France, 29 of them in La Faute-sur-Mer, many drowned in their sleep in single-storey houses.
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FloodStorm Xynthia
65Deaths
Not quantifiedDisplaced / homeless
$2.7bnEstimated cost
- 65 deaths in Europe, including 53 in France and 29 in La Faute-sur-Mer.
- Nearly 2 billion euros of damage in France alone.
A violent Atlantic storm coincides with a spring tide: during the night, the sea breaches the dikes of Vendée and Charente-Maritime. In La Faute-sur-Mer, housing estates built on low ground behind a dike are submerged within minutes.
Consequences
Environmental consequences
Tens of thousands of hectares are flooded by the sea; the submerged areas almost exactly match former marine areas.
Economic consequences
Nearly 2 billion euros of damage; the state buys and demolishes about 700 houses in La Faute-sur-Mer and L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer.
Political consequences
The mayor of La Faute-sur-Mer is convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The disaster forces coastal planning to take the risk of marine flooding into account.
Further reading
Similar disasters
- Malpasset Dam failureFlood · France1959
- Great Flood of ParisFlood · France1910
- Vajont disasterFlood · Italy1963
- Pakistan floodsFlood · Pakistan2022
In the rankings : The worst disasters in France No. 9The deadliest floods No. 8
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