REPORT - After the largest earthquake in metropolitan France for 16 years, with a recorded magnitude of 5.4, part of the Ardèche wakes Tuesday morning in shock. No fewer than 300 inhabitants of Teil were forbidden to return home because of the dangers of their home.

REPORTAGE

In Teil, it's the day after. Tuesday, this small town of Ardeche woke up in shock after the worst earthquake in metropolitan France since 2003. With a magnitude of 5.4, the earthquake has left four wounded in the region, including a seriously. The schools will remain closed all day and the time is now to assess the damage for the victims, 300 of whom were forbidden to return home.

Cracks of 3 cm

House by house, in Teil, the firemen made the first inspections of the damaged housing. "We list all the cracks in the houses, to find out if there is imminent danger or not," says one of them. "If there is a reply, do not take a risk, now that it is weak, it can fall."

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For some families, the earthquake that occurred Monday afternoon caused too many cracks and too much damage. "It's the whole house that has moved up and down," says Alain, whose walls of the villa have moved 3 cm. "It looked like a plane was falling, the dishes exploded, the television fell off, all the locked doors were opened, and there will probably be a lot of work to do because on the front and inside the house, these are important cracks. "

A noise "that I will never forget"

This retiree will not follow the advice of the firefighters: he prefers to stay on site to clear huge damage. "Initially, we thought it was a bomb," says Arlette, the wife of Alain. "We have to start life at our age, it's a bit hard ... Everything is on the ground, everything is broken, where do you want me to go?" They told us it was dangerous, but we'll see.

Others have been more reasonable. "I can not go home, everything is cracked, it can crumble at any time," laments Carmen, who has spent the night in one of the gyms in the city. "For the moment, I am here." She also recounts the shock that seized her: "I was very scared and I'm still scared now.That noise I'll never forget, there was smoke everywhere, dust." After the shock, will come then the questions of the more durable relocation of these people, and their compensation by insurance.