The Minister Delegate for Overseas Territories Jean-François Carenco, who arrived in Guadeloupe on Wednesday, expressed on leaving the plane the government's "support" for the territory, faced with the problems "of water, roads, rehousing" which arise, four days after the passage of the storm Fiona.

In Pointe-à-Pitre, Carenco assured the press that he had come "as a sign of government support" and to express "publicly the affection of the Nation at a time when Guadeloupe is suffering".

Tropical storm Fiona, which has since become a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, had experienced Guadeloupe over the weekend, with strong winds, torrential rains and floods, which killed one person.

The natural disaster decree will be published "before Saturday", promised Carenco.

On Wednesday, 60,000 households in the archipelago were still affected by water cuts, due to significant damage to network installations.

A plane and 40 reinforcements bringing "a machine capable of making river water drinkable" must arrive Wednesday evening in Guadeloupe in order to make up for the shortcomings in the most affected areas, said Jean-François Carenco.

Fifteen weakened bridges

The Orsec (Organization of the civil security response) drinking water system was implemented "as soon as the event ended and remains mobilized", assured the minister in a letter sent Wednesday to the deputy of Guadeloupe Olivier Serra, who had demanded the triggering of this device.

In Guadeloupe, many activists have been asking for a long time for the establishment of this plan in a sustainable way, because of the critical situation of the water networks on the island, which are dilapidated and which do not ensure the distribution of drinking water for all. .

According to the Minister, it was so far "structural difficulties of the networks" which did not correspond "to the current criteria of the Orsec plan".

With regard to roads, "about fifteen bridges are weakened" on the whole of the island, for his part indicated the prefect, Alexandre Rochatte, during the same press briefing.

On Wednesday morning, in Capesterre-Belle-Eau, a tourist town badly affected by the passage of the storm located in the south-east of the island of Basse-Terre, the mayor issued orders prohibiting people from passing through certain bridges "taking into account the risk of collapse".

The president of the department, Guy Losbar, called in a press release on Wednesday for a "major reconstruction plan" for Guadeloupe, estimated at "more than one billion euros" to be mobilized "in partnership with the State and the different communities”.

Planet

Hurricane Fiona, upgraded to Category 4, heads for Bermuda

Company

Storm Fiona in Guadeloupe: Some 60,000 customers still without water three days later

  • Company

  • Jean-Francois Carenco

  • Guadeloupe

  • Storm

  • Fiona

  • Potable water