Ten days later, the neighbors of the tragedy have not found their accommodation. None of the 302 people evacuated following the collapse of a building in the center of Marseille, which killed eight people, could return to their homes, said the town hall of the Marseille city on Wednesday. The latter also asked the State to create a solidarity fund and to contribute to it to help evacuated families, without specifying the amount.
“The security perimeter is still maintained until the return of the commissioned expert reports”, explained the town hall to AFP, preventing any return to the adjacent dwellings evacuated for safety. The city of Marseille has requested “three separate studies which are still in progress in order to analyze the building safety of the buildings one by one”, she specified in a press release.
Awaiting in-depth studies
On the night of April 8 to 9 at 17 rue de Tivoli, in a lively and family district in the center of Marseille, a building had been blown up by an explosion, probably due to gas. A second building, located at number 15, had also collapsed a few hours after the first, after being evacuated. For safety, several adjacent buildings had been completely evacuated of their inhabitants pending further studies to find out if the explosion could have weakened them. Of the 302 people evacuated, 89 are currently being cared for and housed by the city in hotels, i.e. 48 homes. The others decided to be housed on their own.
“My role, as mayor of Marseille, is to stand by your side, to accompany you and to mobilize all the city’s services and all the players, as we have done from the start, in the face of this terrible drama. I therefore undertake that you will find me by your side in all your difficulties, ”assured the mayor of the city Benoît Payan during an information meeting with the people concerned by the security perimeter. “I asked the State to create a solidarity fund to advance the costs related to the damage suffered. This advance fund will be there to relieve you in this difficult journey,” he added.