the town of Laruns devastated by a torrent of mud

The streets of downtown Laruns (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) are transformed into a torrent of water, Friday December 10. Homes and businesses suffered significant damage. “Water entered through the gates. It must go since the pump does not pump enough, so I have to remove all the water in the restaurant“, testifies Isabelle Sanchette, restaurateur.

Outside, the town hall teams, helped by local residents, pile up stones to put up makeshift gutters in a hurry. 500 meters higher, it was necessary to build a temporary dam to evacuate the water from the tributaries of the Gave. The damage appears to be greater than that of the 2019 floods. “It’s ten times more“, estimates René Erreçaret, an inhabitant of Laruns. Pierre Vidal, a carpenter, lost all his wood cutting equipment, drowned under 80 cm of water in the middle of the night. The rain continues to fall and significant accumulations are still expected The department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques has been placed in red vigilance for floods.