The highest water levels in the region were recorded just to the south of Montpellier in the coastal town of Agde, where the River Herault reached more than 11 feet, leading to what forecasters said was likely the worst flooding the region had experienced since November 1994. Local residents posted footage of flooded promenades along the banks of the river but no major damage or human casualties were reported.
"We had to respond to the ecological question raised by the youth - and at the same time, this response could not be to the detriment of the most fragile groups who can have the feeling that any new ecological initiative is punitive.", said Freche. "We decided to propose measures that would ultimately reconcile environmental protection with increased purchasing power, and [the answer] was the gratuity of public transportation."
