French departments on high alert as more bad weather sweeps in

Eight departments in northern and western France remained under flood alert Wednesday as rain and high winds batter the region six weeks after unprecedented floodwaters devastated low-lying communities.

Pas-de-Calais, where dozens of residents have been evacuated as water levels rise to dangerous levels on the back of two weeks of rain, was placed on the highest possible alert - red.

Local prefects said the