In a rockfall in southern France, several houses of a community have been destroyed. No one was injured in les Mées northeast of Aix-en-Provence, the fire department said. Dozens of residents spent the night in a community hall. The authorities assume that the rocky slope caused by heavy rain to slip.
Rescue teams used dogs and helicopters to search for potential victims until the local government issued a provisional all-clear. None of the residents was therefore missing. "We used eight dogs to dispel any doubts," said the fire chief, Frédéric Pignaud. That no one was hurt was a miracle.
One house was completely smashed by one of the heavy rocks, on another the rock fell in the entrance area. The inhabitants of the ruined house were at work at the time of the landslide on Monday afternoon. About 20 neighbors had to leave their homes at the direction of the fire department.
The rocks of Les Mées - also called "the penitents" - are a popular photo destination for tourists. In heavy rainfall in southeastern France, at least six people had been killed since Sunday.
