Torrential rains: flooded streets in the Gard and Hérault departments, which are under red alert
A rare and intense Cévennes episode caused flooding in the Gard and Hérault departments, which were placed under red alert for rain and flooding on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. In Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, streets were submerged and three people trapped in cars were rescued. Travel was also severely disrupted around Montpellier.
Streets transformed into torrents in the Gard region
The rains, which began Tuesday evening, quickly caused flooding in several towns. In Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, in the Gard department, mud flooded the streets, partially covered cars, and entered homes. Some roads were damaged by the torrents.
Firefighters rescued three people trapped in their vehicles. Faced with rising waters, residents tried to protect their homes with planks and bags of gravel. These meas were not enough everywhere: one restaurant owner, in particular, saw water enter his establishment.
In Ganges, in the Hérault department, Mayor Bertrand Vivancos and his deputies activated the municipal emergency plan. Residents, though familiar with such events, described the rainfall as unusually intense.
Traffic disruptions around Montpellier
The storms also affected travel. A plane scheduled to land in Montpellier was unable to do so, according to a TF1 report. In the city, motorists found themselves stranded in floodwaters, while trams were stopped due to submerged tracks.
Trains between Marseille and Bordeaux have been cancelled until the end of the day. The mayor of Montpellier urged residents to cancel their travel plans, while the prefect of the Gard department asked them to stay home.
An episode described as exceptional
Météo-France described the event as remarkable for its intensity. In the report, Evelyne Dhéliat, head of the weather service at TF1-LCI, mentioned a Mediterranean Sea warmer than usual—2 to 5°C warmer, according to her—and very dry soils as contributing factors. Météo-France had forecast increased heavy rainfall in the area starting Tuesday, September 29.
In Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas, residents regularly monitored the rising water levels. The situation described in the report serves as a reminder of how quickly heavy rainfall can disrupt traffic and reach homes in the affected communities.
Source: TF1 INFO – News for everyone (www.tf1info.fr)
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