Sagweni ordered the eviction of an additional 53 homes on Saturday night, after receiving recommendations from the Department of Transportation and Englube, which conducted analyzes earlier this week.
The victims had until seven o’clock this morning to vacate their homes and leave the place, bringing as much possessions as possible with them.
On Saturday, during a press conference held around 9 p.m., municipal authorities warned that the evacuation could last several weeks or even months. They fear a new landslide in the area.
The ground conditions at this site are similar to those that caused the tragic landslide that killed many people in 1971 that swept away part of the municipality of Saint-Jean-Vianney.
24 homes were evacuated last week after a bridge collapsed in the 8th and 9th Avenues area on Monday evening. Saguenay Mayor Julie Dufour said 76 families were affected.
Many of the victims received the eviction order around 10 p.m. or even 10:30 p.m.
It looks like it’s not real. I kept telling the firefighters to go away, and that I wouldn’t move, but it seemed like I had to leave
disaster victim Yoland Tremblay shared Saturday night, picking up her personal belongings.
” It’s hard to leave everything quickly, not knowing where to go, not knowing where to go next. I will not be with my sister for a year, two or three months. It’s tough, I’m 66 and I never thought this would happen to me. »
Other people we interviewed this morning said they were surprised to leave their homes so quickly. Honestly, I didn’t expect that at all
Share a victim.
The man, who lives not far from the house that was swept away on Monday, was not aware of the landslide on the evening of the events.
At the time I was in the basement of our house. I didn’t even hear, zero vibration
he added.
The events brought back bad memories for many people in the area, when La Bay was hit by the Saguenay floods in 1996, said district MP, François Tremblay.
” We have references here with Saint-Jean-Vianney. In the 1970s, there was a flood, too. But I think we still have to rest assured. The city is on the ground now. There is a deployment process, and there is analytics being done. »
escorting the victims
Sagueni Mayor Julie Dufour confirmed in an interview Sunday morning that authorities are working hard to support the victims.
On Saturday evening, the Jean-Claude Tremblay Sports Center was converted into an emergency accommodation center to house victims who wanted to spend the night there.
” The first priority of this city is to accompany them. This morning, we will meet them and we will not leave anyone alone. We understand more in the current context of the vacancy rate in our apartments, which is very low, [que] It is very difficult to house everyone, but we support them. »
The mayor could not say how many people were affected in total by the eviction notice. You will know this information later in the morning.
Are there people who prefer to go to the camp or to the chalet? But when we have the number of people who need housing, there is [qu’on va le savoir]. But we are already at work
Mrs. Dufour said.
Municipal authorities will hold a press briefing, expected at noon, following a meeting with the victims that began at ten in the morning at the Palais Municipal Theater, in La Baie.
There is also the Red Cross in “La Bay” to help the victims of the disaster.
According to Engineer Mohamed Hosseini, precautions should be taken in areas prone to landslides.
We really need to put together a panel of experts to work, so that this kind of landslide doesn’t happen again. [Au moins]Building permits are not granted in landslide-prone areas
He said.
The Telejournal Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean will be broadcasting live from The Bay tonight at 6pm.
More details to come
With information from Philippe Laureux, Adrien Laroche and Flavi Villeneuve