The town hall of Bordeaux was still awaiting the green light from the judicial authorities, this Tuesday evening, to launch the expertises after
the collapse of two buildings Sunday evening, at 19 and 21 rue de la Rousselle, near the Porte de Bourgogne. We deplore three injured, including one serious.
The situation, which should unblock fairly quickly, prevents for the moment to know the reasons for these collapses. Work on the building at 21 rue de la Rousselle, however, is suspected to be at the origin. “We are waiting to know if the investigators of the judicial police are going to seal or not, and depending on that we will know if we can send experts” said housing deputy Stéphane Pfeiffer during a press point on Tuesday . The services of the city and the metropolis also contacted the owner of the building during the day, who at the same time commissioned his insurance for an expertise as well.
Special vigilance for prime proximity buildings
A total of 13 buildings located in the immediate vicinity of those that collapsed were evacuated, representing around 140 people. Most of these tenants would have found rehousing on their own, apart from six people taken care of in hotels or residences of social landlords. “If people have difficulties, they should contact the town hall and we will guide them” insists the housing assistant.
Regarding safety, “particularly important vigilance” is given to first-line buildings, in particular those located at 17 and 23 rue Rousselle. “By prevention, there was a securing of other buildings, side and opposite, in case of resumption of a collapse” specifies the deputy mayor of the district Amine Smihi. Several housing units in the area are also still without water or electricity, or both.
An audit of several hundred buildings
These two collapses, which are far from being the first in the center of Bordeaux, also raise the question of the old housing stock in the historic center. “A study has been underway for several months on unsanitary conditions, the results of which we will have in the course of the summer”, assures Stéphane Pfeiffer. “At the same time, we are going to launch an audit very soon on rue de la Rousselle and rue Planterose where there was a collapse ten days ago, adds the elected official. And then we will carry out an audit on a much larger perimeter, which will mix insalubrity and endangered buildings, about which we have suspicions. This could affect several hundred buildings. For this audit it will be necessary to go through a public market so it will be done in the coming months. “
The housing assistant assures that there are “many situations of poor housing in the area”, and announces that visits and controls of these buildings will be reinforced. “If buildings are not in good condition, owners will be reminded of their responsibility,” he continues. We can encourage them to carry out work, and we can even go as far as expropriation if nothing happens. “” We know the buildings on which we must be vigilant, adds Amine Smihi, and the owners must increase their concern on this subject, and we will encourage them to do so. “
The municipality also stresses its wish to speed up the process of buying and renovating unsanitary buildings.