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Thousands of jobs are at stake in the Charente region alone, he says: "Cognac is a product that's made for export."

But although she was bound and thrown into the Charente River, the woman did not die.

To the southeast of Bordeaux, where the river Garonne last week flooded large areas between Marmande and La Reole, floodwaters were receding, but the waters of the Charente were not expected to fall before Wednesday.

The city of Cognac, centre of brandy production on the Charente river, also saw several streets flooded.

In the western town of Saintes, north of Bordeaux, the Charente River flooded dozens of streets and homes, and was expected to keep rising.