The explosion gutted an HLM residence in Puilboreau, a town bordering La Rochelle where the Beaulieu commercial zone is located. It occurred around 4:30 a.m., during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, indicate…
The explosion gutted an HLM residence in Puilboreau, a town bordering La Rochelle where the Beaulieu commercial zone is located. It occurred around 4:30 a.m., during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, indicate the Charente-Maritime firefighters. In one of the apartments, which was completely destroyed and blown up by the explosion, a person was seriously injured. She was transported to Poitiers University Hospital by Dragon 17, the civil protection helicopter. Our colleagues from France Bleu La Rochelle specify that his vital prognosis was in jeopardy.
Two other tenants of the residence were slightly injured. Around forty people were evacuated in the middle of the night, housed in a municipal hall.
A gas leak could be the cause of the disaster, our colleagues from France Bleu and Sud Ouest are considering. The four-story HLM building was terribly damaged, several apartments destroyed. Several other buildings in the area were impacted, including a senior residence located just opposite the HLM building. Enedis and GRdF cut the gas and electricity supply to the entire sector.
More victims in the rubble
On site, emergency services identified 176 victims. A medico-psychological assistance cell was set up in the Baillac municipal hall, near the scene of the explosion.
This Wednesday morning, there would no longer be any victims left in the rubble, “apart from a few domestic animals”, specifies France Bleu.
From the start of the morning, nine Charentais firefighters specializing in clearance rescue, members of the USAR, the Support and Research Rescue Unit took the road to La Rochelle to “assess the level of deterioration of the buildings and put in place measures “necessary safety measures”, specifies the Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS) 17. Specialists in building risk, they will notably have to carry out reconnaissance of the premises, support, clear, with the assistance of a dog team.
These specialists are regularly sent to disaster sites from Charente.
