FRANCE 5 – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 AT 9:10 PM – DOCUMENTARY
The Place de la Concorde looks like an immense lake, the Eiffel Tower has its feet under water, in the courtyard of the Louvre only the top of the pyramid is still dry. These images with very realistic special effects look like something out of a disaster movie. But these disturbing scenes could very well become reality.
The question is not whether there is a risk of a centenary flood of the Seine equal to or greater than that of January 1910, but when it will occur; Global warming only increases this possibility of a gigantic flood.
Since 1910, public authorities have continued to try to prevent the risks of seeing Paris again in Venetian style, with boats and canals in the heart of a submerged city, as evidenced by filmed archives. Over the decades, pontoons have been destroyed, arches widened and excavations carried out to improve the river’s flow.
Predicted disaster
Technical means and knowledge have certainly progressed. Hundreds of experts and researchers (engineers, hydrogeologists, climatologists, urban planners, etc.) dedicate their time to studying these phenomena, looking for ways to reduce the power of the river, imagining new protections and finding solutions to avoid the predicted catastrophe.
But the capital has become fragile with its underground infrastructure – metro lines, car parks, gas installations, electricity, heating, telephone networks, etc. – which now extend over seven levels. During a 100-year flood, it is estimated that 5 million Ile-de-France residents would experience disruptions to many of these basic services. The first network that would fail would be the district heating network and the last, the drinking water network.
Anti-flood plans, ParisPluie plan… Public authorities and political leaders take this centuries-old risk very seriously. In metro and sewers we are constantly monitoring and improving protection facilities. Knowing that, despite all the measures taken, unpleasant surprises can arise at any time.
During the major flood that occurred between the end of May and the beginning of June 2016 in part of Europe, the Seine reached 6.10 m (although still far from the record of 8.62 m in 1910) and severe damage was caused, in particular, Val-de-Marne. More recently, in July 2021, more than 200 deaths were recorded in Germany and Belgium following floods related to global warming. This phenomenon raises fears of extreme flooding in the future that would almost make the 1910 flood look like a normal flood.
When the Seine overflowsdocumentary by Mathieu Schwartz (fr., 2022, 90 min). Broadcast within the framework of the “Large format science” program, presented by Mathieu Vidard.
