Two survivors of the Saint-Jean-Vianney tragedy in Saguenay, which killed 31 people more than 50 years ago, say they are relieved to see the dozens of residents quickly evacuated to La Baie to avoid another tragedy.
• Read also: 6 things to know about the Saint-Jean-Vianney landslide
• Read also: 53 additional residences evacuated in La Baie
“Get out of there as quickly as possible, if you have any doubts!” I understand people’s fear, but it’s better to wait away from home for a few months than to have a loss of life,” insists Rolande Lavoie.
The latter has the impression of playing in the same film these days watching the dozens of residences in La Baie that are subject to an evacuation order.
“When I saw what was happening in La Baie, it really touched me. I’m sure everyone in Saint-Jean-Vianney thought the same thing. It makes us relive the tragedy that we went through 50 years earlier, ”explains Ms. Lavoie.
Marked for life
The deadly landslide that engulfed Saint-Jean-Vianney in May 1971 killed 31 people and destroyed 42 houses.
“My father was the mayor of the city at the time. I took a helicopter ride afterwards. I remember looking at the houses destroyed by passing all these dead people, some of whom have not even been found yet, ”recalls the one who was 23 years old at the time of the tragedy.
Rolande Lavoie adds that her best friend of 21 years, Jeannette Landry, died during this sad event.
“I will never forget that. They were saying the names of the dead on the radio and they said his. I still think about her a lot. At least the city of La Baie acted quickly this time to avoid other deaths, ”she notes.
Similar observation for Denys Claveau, another survivor of the tragedy who had a narrow escape in 1971.
“For me, I was fortunately a little further away in a school preparing for a congress. We ran out of electricity. Afterwards, my father’s cousins came and told us that the houses went into the ground. We didn’t believe them,” says Mr. Claveau.
Good choice
The latter insists that the City acted well by quickly evacuating the residents of La Baie this weekend.
“I’m relieved, yes. They did this out of caution and it’s a good idea. The scale is different from Saint-Jean-Vianney, but it is the same principle,” concludes Denys Claveau.