Natural disasters recognised in 213 communes in 46 French departments (Journal Officiel)

Natural disasters have been officially recognised in 213 communes in 46 départements of France, according to an order dated 11/05/2026 and published in the French Official Journal on 15/05.

According to the data analysed by News Tank, the causes of the damages were as follows:
• 105 cases of flooding and mudslides;
• 101 cases of differential ground movements resulting from drought and soil rehydration;
• 10 communes suffered ground movements (excluding geotechnical drought);
• 4 cases of flooding caused by the rising of the water table;
• and flooding caused by the mechanical impact of waves at Le Tréport in the Seine-Maritime département.

The communes of Baud and Malestroit in the Morbihan department (Britanny) were hit by three episodes of flooding and mudslides between January and February 2026, and those of Guénin, Peillac and Quimper by two episodes.

The municipality of Mansonville, in the Tarn-et-Garonne department (Occitanie region), is the only one affected by two phenomena: differential ground movements as a result of drought and soil rehydration, and flooding and mudslides…