“People don't want to talk too much here. The district is still very marked. It's painful for everyone, ”explains a man in his forties, his dog on a leash, coming out of one of the buildings on rue Erlanger in Paris (16th century).
At 17 bis, a prefectoral document prohibits entry. The door of the building on the street is closed by a solid chain after the dramatic fire which left 10 dead and 96 injured, including 8 firefighters, on the night of February 4 to 5, 2019, burned in their apartment or forced to jump into the empty to escape the flames.
Dramatic images of the fire in rue Erlanger in Paris
An anonymous person wedged a bouquet of white flowers between the links. An official from the 16th arrondissement town hall was able to tape the announcement of the tribute this Wednesday at 9:30 am at the same address. A document bordered with black. Because in the neighborhood, it is a real mourning that must be experienced.
"A sad anniversary," said one of the survivors. Like the others, he hesitates to come as it is difficult to come back and remember ... On the other side of the street façade, the building has remained as is. Blackened. Windows only obstructed. As frozen by the police investigation which led to the indictment of Essia B, a tenant of the 2 nd floor of the building, 41 years old.
In the neighboring building on the 7th floor, Georges, 74, watched the drama helplessly. “For a few hours, four young people took refuge on the ledge of their burning building. They asked me for help. But there was a void below and five meters between them and my terrace. I was helpless. A scene that he has trouble erasing from his memory. "I had to see a shrink to help me," he admits.
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He too hesitates to come this Wednesday to this tribute ceremony. At the 16th century town hall, it is not known how many people will come. The representatives of the cult and the elected will be there. Relief officials will also come. Their courage and the solidarity of the residents of the neighborhood will lighten this morning of remembrance.
