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Bad weather in the Somme: residents facing the damage from mudslides
The time for clean-up came in the Somme on Thursday, May 23, after major mudslides, which caused extensive damage in several municipalities.
(France 2)
The time for clean-up came in the Somme on Thursday, May 23, after major mudslides, which caused extensive damage in several municipalities.
Amandine Penet is smiling again, she will be able to sleep warm with her family. Tuesday, May 21, in the evening, his home was ravaged by the mudslide that crossed his village of Sailly-Laurette, in the Somme. Moved by his story, one of his neighbors decided to give him the keys to his house. “Having this house is an unexpected gift”, she assures. A relief for this mother, victim of the torrent of water and earth which swept away everything in its path in a few minutes. In total, eleven houses were flooded and the traces of this night of anguish are still visible.
To cope, in this village in the Somme, solidarity is being organized. A former elected official travels through the town to help the victims. “We try to do our best so that everyone is helped as much as possible”, confides a resident. The work is colossal, there are still more than 50 cm of mud in places and some damage is irreparable. The Somme prefecture has just launched a study to understand the reasons for this violent phenomenon. In the meantime, it will take several weeks for this village to return to normal.
