France's Brittany on 'red alert' for more bad weather

Along France’s western coast in the region of Brittany water continues to mount, frustrating residents who have battled bad weather since Christmas. Water overflow continued on Sunday from the combined effect of heavy downpours and a high tidal coefficient on Saturday.

Waves have lashed the western coast of Brittany since Christmas REUTERS/Mal Langsdon

France’s weather service issued another red alert in the far western region of Finistère on Saturday night valid until at least 4pm Sunday afternoon.

Morbihand, Loire-Atlantique and Ille-et-Vilaine have remained on orange alert.

On Saturday night residents in Quimper, Finistère enjoyed a lull in the bad weather but Sunday’s forecast dampened the mood.

“The fear is very strong, there is significant rainfall expected and we will have a weekend of something like 50 mm of rain,” said deputy mayor Alain Kerhervé to AFP. “We do not expect a significant decline before the middle of next week.”

Government spokesperson Najat Belkacem-Vallaud said Friday that a state of natural disaster would be established in Brittany and that the country will be present with the region in facing the bad weather.