In January 2020 in the Pyrénées-Oriental a storm, named “Gloria” will disturb the quiet life of this beautiful region.
On Tuesday 21st 2020, most of the Pyrénées-Oriental would wake up under the snow or heavy downpour.
Things would only get worse during the next few days. The storm lasted from the 21st to the 22nd.
Roads would be closed, public buses and school buses wouldn’t be allowed to take the road.
Trains couldn’t function properly as the train track in the region is fairly close to the water, and any rise in the level of water makes the tracks unusable.
Many are left without any electricity as the water rises. Rivers like the Têt in Perpignan are coming out of their bed, in an unprecedented fashion. Forcing schools and other public facilities to close.
In Perpignan parts of the highway have to be closed. Most of the roads next to the river Têt are underwater.
Between the 21st and the 23rd the whole region was at standstill. Waiting for the water to lower and the rivers to go back in their beds.
The whole situation forced more than 2000 people to be evacuated, roads needed to be rebuilt after landslides and an incalculable number of damages.
Luckily no one was truly hurt during the passage of the storm, unlike in Spain where four people died.
Roads and highways are closed de to flooding
Water remains on the main roads that access Perpignan
The Têt river still overflowing the next day
As the Têt river overflowed, sand and other debris end up on the roads
Water level got so high that street signs almost got submerged
Debris brought onto the roads by the water
