Nearly 150 people were evacuated from a building in Martigues overnight from Saturday to Sunday after the appearance of cracks.
“Some cracks are large, two or three millimeters at the base, and at the top, you run your hand through the crack. It’s very, very serious”, warns Gaby Charroux, the communist mayor of Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône), Sunday September 10 on franceinfo. Nearly 150 people were evacuated from a building overnight from Saturday to Sunday. The residents of buildings K and M of this building belonging to the social landlord 13 Habitat. “The first building is in the process of separating itself from its neighbor”explains the aedile.
Some of them alerted the firefighters and the town hall on Saturday evening. “They heard a very loud noise, as if the building was tearing apart. So, people legitimately panicked and therefore alerted wherever they could”, says Gaby Charroux. Firefighters and police intervened around midnight. The mayor of Martigues also visited the site.
“We evacuated naturally and I issued a danger order concerning this building at two in the morning.”
Gaby Charroux, communist mayor of Martiguesat franceinfo
The chosen “think” to these families “sometimes with child” who had to leave their homes “in disaster”, in the middle of the night, without having time to take many personal belongings. These residents will not be able to return to their homes until further notice. “Maybe later to collect some things but as far as living again, the answer is no”says Gaby Charroux.
According to him, experts announce that this building “will collapse this afternoon, tomorrow, in a week, in a month… but it will collapse”. Consequently, continues the mayor of Martigues, “I ask that we help it collapse because in any case, it is no longer possible for it to be dedicated to housing and rental. So, he continues, we might as well accelerate this movement “.
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“The lessor is considering rehousing”
Gaby Charroux indicates that around forty residents spent the night in a gymnasium in the city. The others were able to be accommodated with family or friends. “The idea being that this [dimanche] evening and for the next two or three days, all people will be relocated to hotels.”, adds the city councilor. Afterwards, “the lessor is currently considering rehousing in its real estate portfolio, whether in Marseille, Port-de-Bouc, or Châteauneuf-les-Martigues, where the lessor will be able to”.
Contacted by franceinfo, Romain Luongo, communications director 13 Habitat confirms that the lessor is looking for Sunday “temporary solutions in hotels” and also “more lasting solutions” with one difficulty: there are few vacant housing units left in its real estate portfolio. Furthermore, Gaby Charroux ensures that the town hall alerted the social landlord to the deterioration of this building.
“In 2021, a balcony planter collapsed in this same building. Checks were carried out on all the planters elsewhere and repair and security work was carried out. So, there had been this alert. So it could be a little worrying.”
Gaby Charroux, communist mayor of Martiguesat franceinfo
Romain Luongo confirms this information and that work has been undertaken. Concerning the cracks, the latter assures that the new president of 13 Habitat visited her buildings last March, in the presence of elected officials from Martigues. And at that moment there “had no warning for structural cracks”. He also specifies that the lessor launched a rehabilitation plan in May. Energy renovation work is due to begin in six months.