French businesses face heavy losses after record flooding

Businesses in southwestern France are assessing heavy losses after record flooding submerged towns including Marmande, La Réole and Cadillac-sur-Garonne. Floodwaters rising above ten metres inundated shops, spas and restaurants, leaving owners facing thousands of euros in damage and weeks of lost income. With climate-related insurance costs soaring – reaching billions of euros in 2024 – many businesses are struggling to recover as extreme weather events become increasingly costly.