The flooding of the Thouet River in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, transformed a shopping center parking lot into an impromptu body of water. A resident posted several videos on social media showing him kayaking among the submerged cars at night on Boulevard Benjamin-Delessert.
The widely shared footage shows the kayak moving between the rows of cars in the E.Leclerc supermarket parking lot, accompanied by music played from a speaker mounted on the front of the kayak. The images quickly circulated on Instagram and other platforms.
A context of exceptional flooding in the West
This incident comes as several departments in western France remain affected by significant flooding. In Saumur, the Loire River reached a level of 4,91 meters on Friday morning, leading to the closure of quays and the flooding of certain areas.
Authorities are reminding the public that swollen rivers pose a high risk. In Maine-et-Loire, a kayaker is still missing after his boat capsized on the Loire River earlier this week. State services are also urging the public not to obstruct rescue operations.
