France Declares Natural Disaster Status for 127 Communes After Severe Storms

Government Action Follows Intense Weather

France's Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, announced on Saturday, September 27, 2025, that 127 communes across southeastern and western France have been officially recognized as natural disaster areas. This decision, formalized by a decree issued on Thursday, September 25, comes in the wake of particularly intense floods and thunderstorms that impacted these regions earlier in the week.

The recognition is a crucial step for residents and businesses in the affected areas, enabling them to access compensation for damages incurred during the severe weather events.

Details of the Severe Weather Events

The severe weather, characterized by heavy rainfall and powerful thunderstorms, struck departments including Bouches-du-Rhône, Côtes-d'Armor, Vaucluse, and Var on Sunday, September 21, and Monday, September 22.

• In southeastern France, residents experienced severe thunderstorms and flash floods on September 21.
• Avignon recorded 127 mm of rain, mostly within three hours, while Castellet in the Var department saw 136 mm, setting a new record for the city.
• Toulon was hit by approximately 70 mm of rain in just half an hour, leading to flooded streets, the closure of the train station, and the city tunnel.
• In Sanary-sur-Mer, about 30 mm of rain fell in ten minutes.
• The storms caused widespread disruption, leaving up to 60,000 homes without power, closing roads, suspending train services in Toulon, and diverting flights to Marseille Airport.
• Heavy rainfall also affected the town of Pertuis, north of Marseille.
• The severity of the conditions led to the postponement of the PSG-Marseille football match.

Implications of Natural Disaster Status

The declaration of a 'catastrophe naturelle' (natural disaster) status is a vital mechanism in France for providing financial relief to those affected by major natural phenomena.

Under this system:

• Compensation for material damage is paid out of a special fund, which is contributed to by insurance companies and the government.
• French law mandates that all property damage insurance policies include coverage for natural disasters, known as 'CatNat' coverage.
• Affected policyholders have 30 days from the publication of the decree in the Journal officiel to file a claim with their insurer.
• The Interior Minister is responsible for the general internal security of the country, including responses to natural catastrophes.

This recognition ensures that the communes can begin the process of recovery and that residents can receive the necessary support to rebuild and repair damages caused by the recent extreme weather.