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Portiragnes: geology and natural hazards

What public services say about the ground beneath the commune (population 3,530) and the hazards it faces: natural disasters, earthquakes, radon, cavities, clays, groundwater and rocks.

Hazard names and other data are quoted as their producers publish them, in French.

Explore the commune on the map

Portiragnes at a glance

Seismic zone
2 of 5 (low)
Radon potential
Category 1 of 3 (low potential)
Recognised natural disasters
28 since 1982
Underground cavities recorded
None
Ground movements recorded
1
Risk prevention plans
1

Hazards listed by the French State

Natural and technological hazards to which the commune is exposed, according to the national GASPAR database.

  • Inondation: par une crue torrentielle ou à montée rapide de cours d’eau, par remontées de nappes naturelles
  • Mouvement de terrain: affaissements et effondrements d’origine anthropique (anciennes carrières souterraines, hors mines), eboulement ou chutes de pierres et de blocs, tassements différentiels
  • Séisme
  • Feu de forêt
  • Radon
  • Rupture de barrage
  • Transport de marchandises dangereuses

Recognised natural disasters

28 events recognised as a natural disaster by ministerial order since 1982.

  • Inondations et/ou coulées de boue: 18
  • Sécheresse: 8
  • Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues: 3
  • Glissement de terrain: 1
  • Tempête: 1
  1. Sécheresse

    Event from 31/12/2022 to 30/12/2023, order published in the Journal officiel on 18/10/2024.

  2. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2021 to 31/12/2021, order published in the Journal officiel on 30/12/2022.

  3. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 22/10/2019 to 23/10/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 31/10/2019.

  4. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2019 to 30/09/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 12/06/2020.

  5. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 01/03/2018, order published in the Journal officiel on 30/05/2018.

  6. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 28/02/2018 to 02/03/2018, order published in the Journal officiel on 22/06/2018.

  7. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/04/2016 to 31/12/2016, order published in the Journal officiel on 16/02/2018.

  8. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 27/11/2014 to 29/11/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 04/03/2015.

  9. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 29/09/2014 to 30/09/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/11/2014.

  10. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2012 to 31/12/2012, order published in the Journal officiel on 25/05/2013.

  11. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2008 to 30/09/2008, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/04/2010.

  12. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 06/09/2005 to 07/09/2005, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/10/2005.

  13. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2002 to 31/03/2002, order published in the Journal officiel on 16/12/2005.

  14. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 20/10/2001, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/11/2002.

  15. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/03/1998 to 30/06/1999, order published in the Journal officiel on 22/08/2002.

  16. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues, Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 16/12/1997 to 19/12/1997, order published in the Journal officiel on 18/02/1998.

  17. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 04/11/1996 to 08/11/1996, order published in the Journal officiel on 25/05/1997.

  18. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 28/01/1996 to 30/01/1996, order published in the Journal officiel on 03/02/1996.

  19. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 15/12/1995 to 18/12/1995, order published in the Journal officiel on 03/02/1996.

  20. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 28/10/1993 to 03/11/1993, order published in the Journal officiel on 24/03/1994.

  21. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 22/09/1993 to 23/09/1993, order published in the Journal officiel on 18/02/1994.

  22. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 13/12/1987 to 14/12/1987, order published in the Journal officiel on 23/02/1988.

  23. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 02/12/1987 to 05/12/1987, order published in the Journal officiel on 23/02/1988.

  24. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 09/10/1987 to 10/10/1987, order published in the Journal officiel on 20/02/1988.

  25. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 02/10/1987 to 05/10/1987, order published in the Journal officiel on 20/02/1988.

  26. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 13/10/1986 to 17/10/1986, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/02/1987.

  27. Glissement de terrain, Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 04/11/1984 to 15/11/1984, order published in the Journal officiel on 29/03/1985.

  28. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue, Tempête

    Event from 06/11/1982 to 10/11/1982, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/11/1982.

Earthquakes and radon

Seismic zone

Zone 2 of 5: low. This regulatory zoning, in force since 2011, sets the rules for earthquake-resistant construction.

Radon potential

Category 1 of 3: low potential. The geological formations have the lowest uranium content. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can build up in poorly ventilated rooms.

Beneath the town hall

What BRGM maps say at the town hall. They describe that single point: elsewhere in the commune, the ground may be quite different.

  • Shrink-swell clays

  • Rising groundwater

  • Underground cavities

  • Ground movements

  • Earthquakes

  • Nature of the ground

Cavities and ground movements

Recorded across the whole commune by BRGM, in its national databases of underground cavities and ground movements.

No underground cavity recorded (quarries, cellars, military works, natural cavities…).

1 ground movement recorded (landslides, rockfalls, collapses, mudflows…).

See cavities and ground movements on the map

Risk prevention plans

  • PPRI_Portiragnes

    Natural risk prevention plan, under revision.

The zoning and regulations of each plan, which may prohibit or restrict building, can be consulted at the town hall and on Géorisques.

Nearby communes

Sources and limitations

Listed hazards, natural disasters, seismic zoning, radon potential, cavities, ground movements and prevention plans: Géorisques, published by the French ministry for the ecological transition, under Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0, data accessed on 03/11/2026. Summary beneath the town hall: BRGM map services, queried when the page is displayed. List of communes and populations: API Découpage administratif (geo.api.gouv.fr), d’après le code officiel géographique de l’Insee, version of 30/10/2026.

This information reflects the state of knowledge at the scale of the commune or of a single point. It replaces neither a soil survey nor the official risk statement (état des risques) required for a sale or a rental, which is drawn up on the official French government service.