Claira (France) (AFP)
The passage of the Gloria storm in the Pyrenees-Orientales and the Aude was "perfectly managed" but "this raises questions about land use planning," said Secretary of State for Ecological Transition Brune Poirson on Saturday.
"On behalf of the government, it is important to be here today. I would like to salute the immense work accomplished by the state services, the emergency services, the mayors, the associations. This crisis was perfectly managed, "she said during a visit to Claira and Argelès-sur-mer, two Catalan municipalities particularly affected.
"Here, there is feedback that has been done, with expertise. There is a culture of risk," she said. Almost 2,000 people had to evacuate their homes overnight, but the torrential rains left no one dead or injured.
In Spain, twelve people died and four were missing after the storm Gloria, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who linked the phenomenon to climate change.
For Ms. Poirson, "the models show us that this type of event will develop in terms of frequency and intensity".
"This raises questions about spatial planning, taking into account the floods, including in construction," she said. Many evacuated homes are located in flood or at risk areas.
According to her, the state of natural disaster will be recognized: "we are working on the perimeter concerned".
She then went to the Racou district, in Argelès-sur-mer, which is particularly exposed to swells in the east wind.
Storm Gloria, if it was described as exceptional for its duration by Météo-France, was less violent and less brutal than during the floods of October 15, 2018 in the Aude - which had killed 14 people, notably in Trèbes - allowing better anticipation and greater responsiveness of public authorities.
© 2020 AFP