Man missing in Loire River as France hit by record 35 days of rain

This photograph shows a flooded street following the overflow of the Loire River in Chalonnes-sur-Loire, western France, on February 18, 2026. SEBASTIEN SALOM-GOMIS / AFP

A man has gone missing in the Loire River in the flood-hit west of France, an official said, as the country on Wednesday, February 18 marked a record-breaking streak of 35 consecutive days of rain.

National weather service Météo-France said the country was experiencing its longest series of rainy days since measurements began in 1959, breaking the 2023 record. Four departments in western France were placed under red alert over the risk of flooding, with officials expecting the situation to worsen with the arrival of Storm Pedro, which is poised to batter swathes of western Europe.

The mayor of Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic, activated the southwestern city's emergency plan, the first time since record floods in 1999.

In the western town of Chalonnes-sur-Loire, which is located on the left bank of the Loire, a man went missing on Tuesday evening after his canoe capsized, said senior official François Pesneau. "We are deploying resources, but there is objectively very little chance of finding this person," he said, citing strong currents and cold water.