On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Var department experienced a tragic event, marked by torrential rains that submerged the banks of the Argens river. At dawn, many families were jolted awake, their homes flooded with water. For these residents, reality turned into a nightmare with poignant testimonies, such as that of a mother stating: “At 4 o’clock in the morning, water came into our home”. As the streets became rivers and fear set in, everyone tried to understand the extent of this catastrophe and its consequences on their daily lives.
On the night of Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, October 27, 2024, the convenience of sleep turned into a nightmare for the residents of the Argens river, struck by the whims of a new Cévennes episode. Torrential rains fell on Var, transforming the peaceful river into a vast torrent capable of flooding homes. That morning, many families saw water seep into their dwellings, forcing residents to evacuate in a rush and face an overwhelming crisis situation.
Flashbacks of terror
“At 4 o’clock in the morning, water came into our home,” confides Céline, a terrified mother, still in shock. In her neighborhood of Puget-sur-Argens, the usual calm gave way to an apocalyptic scene. The waters rose to 30 centimeters, flooding gardens and threatening houses. With a pump by her side, Céline helplessly watches the water level stagnate in her home, as her eldest daughter was awakened by the cry of alarm. “When we saw that the Argens had risen to six meters, we thought it was a bad sign,” she recounts, her voice betraying a mix of fear and concern.
The flood: an unpredictable phenomenon
That night was marked by the unexpected. Entire families experienced an event they had never imagined. In the municipality of Roquebrune-sur-Argens, the picture was just as bleak. The streets, usually lively and welcoming, turned into raging rivers where one had to wear boots to move forward. The sudden rise of the waters plunged the town into a state of shock, and residents organized themselves into groups to face the disasters around them.
Cut-off roads and isolated homes
The floods also had disastrous consequences on infrastructure. The municipality of Muy, affected by the violence of the storm, saw a bridge collapse under the weight of the water, isolating over 600 people in inaccessible areas. While some drivers managed to avoid catastrophe, others ventured recklessly onto already submerged roads, like a young man whose vehicle stalled in the deluge.
Echoes of a climate scourge
The Argens river, once full of serenity, is now the symbol of a growing threat linked to climate change. This Cévennes episode, which dumped between 300 and 350 millimeters of rain in just a few hours, raises questions about the resilience of residents in the face of the intensification of extreme weather phenomena. Every intervention and every testimony brought to light is confirmation that nature can no longer be tamed.
A look towards the future
As the rain calms and the river gradually returns to its normal course, the inhabitants of Var await a response. The flood alert remains active, local authorities are monitoring the situation, and residents are urged to exercise caution. This tragic weekend reminds everyone that the ecological argument is not simple but a point of no return, and that to preserve the future, a collective awareness is imperative.
- Critical time: 4 o’clock in the morning
- Location: Puget-sur-Argens
- Water depth: rose to 30 cm
- Family impact: terror among children
- Evacuation system: use of pumps
- Noteworthy testimony: “When the Argens rose to six meters…”
- Road conditions: sections clogged with water
- Affected vehicles: submerged or damaged vehicles
- Emergency situation: damaged bridges isolating communities
- Active vigilance: flood alert for the Argens river
