Pyrénées-Atlantiques: A road collapses after torrential rain and flooding

Devastating weather in the Vallée d’Aspe

On Saturday 7 September, heavy rain and flooding in the Vallée d’Aspe in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques caused major damage. Part of the N134 near the town of Urdos collapsed, making traffic impossible. The flooding also affected several homes and a campsite, which were submerged by the raging waters.

The prefecture announced the closure of the road and recommended avoiding the area between the town centre and the Somport tunnel. Météo France has placed the department under yellow alert for ‘rain-flooding’ and orange alert for ‘flooding’ on the Gave de Pau. According to the forecasts, limited flooding is expected on the river, affecting several towns such as Coarraze, Nay, Narcastet, Gelos and Artiguelouve.

A 50-metre hole paralyses traffic

France Bleu Béarn reported that a huge hole 50 metres wide and 50 metres deep had formed in the carriageway. Access to Spain is now disrupted, with lorries blocked at Oloron. The mayor of Urdos also reported that the local campsite had been ‘totally washed away’ by the waters.

Fortunately, there were no casualties, as confirmed by resigning Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who praised the work of the emergency services. However, several dozen homes in the small communes of Cette-Eygun and Etasaur were flooded. In Etsaut, the village square was badly damaged, according to mayor Damien Minvielle.

Damaged infrastructure and disrupted services

The bridge at the entrance to the village of Cette-Eygun was submerged, leaving around fifteen residents in difficulty. The telephone network is almost out of order, and around 300 people in the valley are without electricity.

The sanctuary of Lourdes affected by flooding

The sanctuary at Lourdes, a major Catholic pilgrimage site in the Hautes-Pyrénées, was also partially flooded on Friday night. The Chapelle des Lumières was affected, but the precise extent of the damage has not yet been assessed. The rest of the sanctuary remains open to the public, although the celebrations planned for the grotto have been moved.

According to the shrine’s communications director, the water is beginning to recede. The Lourdes town hall said that the level of the Gave de Pau was ‘very high’, but that it was ‘starting to recede’.

The bad weather has had a significant impact on the region, with orange alerts for thunderstorms and rain-flooding affecting three départements.