Le Figaro Nice
A “Mediterranean episode” caused 119 millimeters of water to fall on the city of Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) alone in one day, a record rainfall which caused landslides and mudslides in different neighborhoods at the start of week.
Following these incidents, the mayor of the Riviera capital, Christian Estrosi (Horizons), wrote to the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, to ask him
“to recognize the state of natural disaster for the phenomenon of movement of ground"
.
“We need this recognition so that insurers take their responsibility
,” explained the councilor.
According to the various weather reports, so much rain has not fallen in 24 hours (between Sunday and Monday) in Nice since 1947, the start of records.
This is one of the wettest winters for a long time on the entire Côte d'Azur, which nevertheless really needed it.
Last year, at the same time, restrictions on water use began to be taken due to drought.
The latest bad weather has even allowed the return of snow at altitude, almost unexpected in certain resorts like that of Roubion.
But, on a coastal part and in the high country of Nice, they caused some damage, which mobilized the firefighters and services of the metropolis.
Several roads were temporarily cut off following landslides, as well as tunnels, closed because they were flooded.
Fall of 500m3 of earth on a hangar
During the night from Monday to Tuesday, a fall of 500m3 of earth on Chemin du Vallon Sabatier, in Nice, partially damaged a hangar, fortunately, uninhabited.
This landslide also buried four vehicles and a heavy goods vehicle.
A short distance away, 14 homes were threatened and for six of them, imminent danger orders had been issued as a precaution.
Eight people had to be rehoused by the Nice municipality.
As all the damage could not be referenced after these intense and, above all, continuous rains - something rather rare in the Alpes-Maritimes -, Christian Estrosi invited his citizens to write to the city's major risks department with elements illustrating and describing the damage.
The sun should return next week.