World News: The Vesubie Valley Hit by Catastrophic Rains, Mudslides, Death

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Category: World News - Europe

Published on Monday, 05 October 2020 09:15

Written by Olivier Longhi

The death toll from "Storm Alex," the apocalyptic rains which hit the south-east region of France triggering raging torrents, massive mudslides and caused entire sections of the towns along the Vesubie River to disappear, is still unknown.

Scenes from the destruction have appeared on the local news and social media, as towns along this once picturesque valley north of Nice, have suffered incredible damage. Raging torrents from the cataclysmic rains ripped apart roadways, created mudslides causing entire apartment complexes, homes and business to fall into the Vesubie river.

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Portions of Saint-Marie-Vesubie, the type of quaint village that attracts tourists, have disappeared as the violent rains generated from Storm Alex which caused the Vesubie to overflow its banks with a tragic and devastating force destroying everything in its path.

The death toll is still unknown with many reported missing. The images are horrific, the damage in the billions.

Government At a Loss

The Mediterranean episode which hit the south-east of France sends the country back to the management of the effects of natural disasters in a context that has now become recognized as global warming. And the question of a global questioning to arise. under massive mudslides as the raging torrents swept through this valley.

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Violent and cruel, the Mediterranean episode which struck the south-east of France and more particularly the Vésubie valley will mark the spirits to be included in a list of natural disasters with the gravity going crescendo.

However, after the findings and the macabre count of the number of victims, questions are now being raised about the future management of this type of climatic event that will repeat itself. The first of these to emerge is naturally that of knowing whether we are ready to face these incidents in order to ensure the safety of the populations. Obviously not.

Admittedly, the violence of the rains and the topography of the valley in question have considerably worsened the situation, but it appears above all that, faced with a changing climate, few towns have been adapted to the effects of these climatic accidents.

Priority and Exceptions

However, this adaptation supposes, for the years to come, an overhaul of all urban policies dedicated to individual and collective construction as well as a systematic taking into account of the environmental conditions specific to each region.

The intention, which must henceforth become a priority, risks running up against a major obstacle: cost. However, the challenge is not only national, it is above all global because natural disasters are not the prerogative of the Hexagon but of global essence.

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A self-centered vision accompanied by solutions that would be equally so would ultimately be useless or, at best, would not be of much use. Climate change now initiated and denied by some obscure minds has found in this natural disaster one of its most cruel expressions.

Some will argue that the Mediterranean episodes are not isolated exceptions from a meteorological point of view, but the magnitude and the power of the one experienced invites humility in the light of the climate changes that have started.

Anticipate and Avoid

The expected awareness is still too timid and even if it were on a larger scale, it would certainly not have prevented the tragedy experienced by the populations of the Vésubie valley. But, the nature of politics being to anticipate, it is not impossible to wonder now about how not to avoid climatic episodes of this type but how to reduce their effects on populations.

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Let us repeat it again, the solution will not be hexagonal, France being in no way a paragon of virtue in environmental matters or environmental protection, far from it, but rather global and global. Today, the evidence is no longer knowing how to avoid natural disasters but knowing how to avoid their effects and consequences.

Bio: Olivier Longhi has extensive experience in European history. A seasoned journalist with fifteen years of experience, he is currently professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held a variety of publishing positions, including Head of Agency and Chief of Publishing. A journalist, recognized blogger, editor, and editorial project manager, he has trained and managed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, a press and publishing consultant, and a communications consultant.