One year ago, the earth was shaking in Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon, Arçais, Niort… earthquake with a magnitude estimated between 5.3 and 5.8 felt in Deux-Sèvres and in part of western France. It was the June 16, 2023 at 6:38 p.m.. An earthquake whose epicenter was located near the towns of La Laigne and Cram-Chaban in Charente-Maritime and Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon.
“We don’t know what the participation of our insurers will be”
Since then, in Deux-Sèvres, only ten municipalities have been recognized as being in a state of natural disaster. 164 were dismissed of their request. 28 municipalities in the Niortais conurbation initiated an appeal at the end of February 2024. This is the case of Saint-Georges-de-Rex, in the Poitevin marshes. “The earth shook both in Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud and in Saint-Georges-de-Rex”defends Jean-Marc Allain, an elected official from the municipality who does not understand the difference in treatment.
The earthquake notably damaged the town church. You can see the pieces of wood that reinforce the arch of the front door. Access has been prohibited since June 16, 2023. Weddings and burials take place in a neighboring town, at Le Vanneau. This non-recognition has consequences. “We don’t know what the participation of our insurers will be”, explains Mayor Alain Liaigre. So in the meantime, “we budgeted 30,000 euros but it could go beyond that. It could make us postpone certain projects”deplores Philippe Pelloquin, the first deputy.
Noémie Guillotin
“An inequality when we all suffered the same earthquake”
In this town of 450 inhabitants, no house has been declared uninhabitable but some were cracked. 38 files were filed as part of the request for recognition in a state of natural disaster. The mayor believes that “If people have a little money they will be able to repair it. Some, their insurance company will perhaps be able to participate and others not. We find ourselves in an inequality according to our means while we have all suffered the same earthquake”.
