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In a visit to Charente Maritime this morning, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that he will not allow people to move back into houses that sit in areas considered high risk, after flooding caused by storm Xynthia took the lives of 12 Charente Maritime residents.

Instead land in safe areas will be set aside to build new homes for those affected, along with the offer of compensation.  Talking later at the general council in Vendee, the president said he “would rather risk the anger of those who would not be allowed to return, than to put lives in danger.”

Storm Xynthia swept through the region on 28 February, and as well as claiming the lives of 53 people, it is estimated that damage will run to over 1.5 billion euros. 

It was revealed this week that around 60% of the iconic ‘Carrelets’ (fishing huts on stilts) were destroyed in the storm, after the number had already dwindled following the 1999 storm.  Producers of wine, potatoes and salt on the Ile de Re have all been severely affected by the effects of the combination of high winds and flooding.

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