Marseille area storms: A55 cut, floods and trains disrupted

Violent storms on Monday and Tuesday caused flooding, landslides and transport disruption across the Bouches-du-Rhône, the département (administrative area) that includes Marseille. France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur reports that the A55 motorway was cut and train services disrupted, and that the message to residents was to avoid driving.

What happened

France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the regional public broadcaster, reports that torrential storms hit the Bouches-du-Rhône on Monday and continued into Tuesday. In some places, up to 40% of the usual annual rainfall fell within a few hours.

Saint-Chamas and Martigues, two towns on the Étang de Berre lagoon north-west of Marseille, saw some of the worst flooding. According to the broadcaster, several neighbourhoods in Martigues were flooded after the storms began on Monday. The pompiers (fire and rescue service) were called out on Monday evening to pump water from people’s homes.

Several roads were still under water on Tuesday morning. A France 3 photograph shows flooded roads in Lançon-de-Provence, and the broadcaster describes people wading through knee-deep water in the dark to get around. The headline lists the main problems: flooding, the A55 motorway cut, éboulements (landslides or rockfalls) and disrupted trains. It also quotes the advice “Évitez de prendre la voiture”, meaning “Avoid taking the car”.

What it means for you

The worst-hit towns named in the report are west and north-west of Marseille, but the effects reach the city. The A55 is one of the main motorways leading out of Marseille towards the western side of the département, so anyone commuting between Marseille and the Martigues or Étang de Berre area is likely to be affected. France 3 does not say which section of the A55 is closed or when it is expected to reopen.

Train services are disrupted, according to the broadcaster, but the article does not name the lines, stations or operators involved. If you travel by rail from Marseille, check your journey before you leave.

On the information available, a resident should:

• Avoid driving if you can, as the report advises, especially around Martigues, Saint-Chamas and Lançon-de-Provence.
• Never drive or walk through floodwater. The report describes knee-deep water on roads, and the depth and current are hard to judge, especially at night.
• Check train services with your operator before travelling, because France 3 does not give details of which routes are affected.
• Look up road closures before using the A55 or other routes west of Marseille. Landslides may also have blocked smaller roads.
• Call the pompiers if your home is flooded and you need help. In France you can reach them on 18 or on the European emergency number 112.

The article does not mention closures of schools, public offices or other services in Marseille itself. If you rely on a particular service, check with it directly.

What to watch next

France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur published the article on Tuesday morning and updated it soon afterwards, so the situation was still developing. Things to look out for:

• When the A55 reopens and whether more roads close because of landslides.
• When train services return to normal and which lines were affected.
• How far the waters go down in Martigues, Saint-Chamas and Lançon-de-Provence, and the full extent of the damage there.
• New weather warnings for the Bouches-du-Rhône. The source does not say what alert level, if any, was in force.

If your home or car was damaged, keep photos and records. The source does not say whether any compensation scheme will apply, so it is worth contacting your insurer early.

Source: France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur