the village of La Bérarde buried under stones

For the first time since the previous week, the inhabitants of La Bérarde (Isère) rediscovered their hamlet, disfigured after being swallowed up by a torrent of stones, Friday June 28. Some chalets are gutted. Others are completely buried. “I can’t even find the vocabulary to express myself anymore. (It’s) a deep disarray. I have my arms hanging. There have been so many moments of joy and happiness here… It’s over, it’s a page that is turning“, testifies a man.

Around thirty residents were authorized to come and collect their belongings. “This is beyond comprehension and beyond what I thought. It’s worse than I thought“, confides one of them. This return was strictly supervised by the police and firefighters. They are the only ones capable of reaching certain areas that are still very dangerous. Six buildings have been completely wiped off the map.