Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
RFI

Why is northern France so vulnerable to treacherous flooding?

The flooded town hall square of Arques, in northern France, on January 4, 2024. AFP - DENIS CHARLET

Two months after unprecedented rains submerged parts of northern France, thousands of residents whose homes had just dried out have been hit once again. Outdated water management systems are proving no match for the deluge brought about by rising sea levels and other climate impacts.

All eyes are on the Aa river in the department of Pas-de-Calais. It's close to bursting its banks as it reaches the same record levels as last November.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.