Torrential rains cause heavy damage in the Pyrenees

In Etsaut (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), the bad weather did not cause any injuries and it is a small miracle. On the central square of the village of 52 inhabitants, the water drained more than a meter of rocks and rubble, an almost unreal scene. The floodwaters having started to recede, Saturday September 7, it is now necessary to clear the streets, clear the houses, find the vehicles… But the resources committed seem limited given the scale of the task. No one seems to understand what happened.

During the night from Friday to Saturday, heavy rainfall hit the Pyrenees, causing rivers to burst their banks in several villages. The Aspe Valley was particularly affected. Near Urdos (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), the national road 134, which connects France to Spain, is cut off. The roadway has collapsed into the ravine, forming a gaping hole several metres deep. In the Hautes-Pyrénées department, there has also been damage, such as in Lourdes where the sacred grotto has been closed to the public.