An audit will be carried out in the buildings of Bordeaux (Gironde) in order to detect any signs of dilapidation, after the collapse in the night from Sunday to Monday of two buildings which left three injured including one serious, announced the town hall.
During a press briefing Monday evening, EELV mayor Pierre Hurmic said that the audit would begin "with the historic center" of the city.
Two three-story buildings collapsed in the night from Sunday to Monday in the Porte de Bourgogne area, in the old center of Bordeaux.
A building, supported and awaiting renovation, collapsed, causing the destruction of the second where there were nine people.
Three people were injured, including a 48-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman who were evacuated "not seriously".
A 28 year old young man was very seriously affected, but the mayor announced Monday evening of "the improvement of his state of health".
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Two buildings collapse in the city center, at least three injured
According to a neighbor, “around half past midnight, there was a big roar and a mini-earthquake at the end”.
“I went down, it was impressive,” added Patrick Calafato.
Sent by the town hall, an expert reported "fear a domino effect," said Pierre Hurmic and ten surrounding buildings were then evacuated, involving a hundred people.
Many of them have been accommodated by their family or friends but solutions are also put in place by the town hall.
"Multiple causes"
The inhabitants will be able to return to their homes on a date as yet unknown, "as soon as we have serious expert feedback", he said adding that "from tomorrow, work is planned to consolidate some buildings".
None of the collapsed buildings was the subject of peril decrees, according to the town hall.
The causes of the incident are still unknown.
“Thunderstorms are probably one of the causes of this type of disaster.
We have suffered rains and storms of exceptional intensity ", had previously noted Pierre Hurmic, while evoking possible" multiple causes ".
He also recalled that the town hall was setting up a "rental permit".
In certain districts, "the owners of old buildings will have to ask the town hall" which will ensure respect for safety, "this will allow us to have a very direct eye on the real estate heritage of Bordeaux".
According to the mayor, 60% of buildings in Bordeaux were already built before 1948. Last Wednesday, not far from there, a dilapidated building in the city center, in the Saint-Michel district, had collapsed without causing any victims.