The ground is littered with debris of all kinds, bricks, glass, plastic, the frame of a window, a shredded parasol, a piece of wall. This Wednesday, May 8, in the morning, under the eyes of haggard tenants and neighbors, the social housing residence “Les vignes pourpres” was gutted. Rue des Fléneaux, in Puilboreau, near La Rochelle, a strong explosion destroyed Building A the previous night, around 4:30 a.m.
The entire facade on the parking side was blown away. In the middle of the night, the explosion occurred in an apartment on the top floor. The…
The ground is littered with debris of all kinds, bricks, glass, plastic, the frame of a window, a shredded parasol, a piece of wall. This Wednesday, May 8, in the morning, under the eyes of haggard tenants and neighbors, the social housing residence “Les vignes pourpres” was gutted. Rue des Fléneaux, in Puilboreau, near La Rochelle, a strong explosion destroyed Building A the previous night, around 4:30 a.m.
The entire facade on the parking side was blown away. In the middle of the night, the explosion occurred in an apartment on the top floor. The occupant, a 56-year-old man, was seriously injured. He was airlifted between life and death to Poitiers hospital. The other 44 residents were unhurt. Only three are very slightly affected. A miracle considering the immensity of the damage at a time when everyone was asleep. The third floor collapsed onto the second, leaving a gaping hole.
84 firefighters were mobilized to the disaster, including specialized people search dogs. According to initial findings, the explosion was due to gas. Accidental or intentional event? “For the moment, we don’t know,” says La Rochelle prosecutor Arnaud Laraize. The investigation opened for involuntary destruction of the property of others by violation of an obligation of prudence and security will be long. »
Under the violence of the explosion, the third floor collapsed onto the second.
Jean-Christophe Sounalet / SO
War memories
In front of the building, a few meters away, the explosion awakened sinister memories for the residents of the Domitys senior residence. “I fought in the war,” says Claude, 93 years old. It reminded me of him. I didn’t think I would experience that again. It’s not a good memory. » The bay window of his balcony, like those of three other apartments, is in pieces. Marie-France thought it was an “earthquake”. Her husband, Daniel, shares the same feeling as his neighbor Claude. “I was eight years old in 1940. It looked like this. Everything came back. »
Jean-Christophe Sounalet / SO
The victims were welcomed in the multipurpose room by the emergency services and the town hall.
In the city center of Puilboreau, the Baillac multipurpose room was opened urgently. A “crisis unit” set up by the town hall, in conjunction with the Samu, the Red Cross and the firefighters. We welcome tenants with bottles of water, coffee, and biscuits. We offer an ear to listen to the pain, to try to evacuate the shock. A large majority of them are in their pajamas. Agnès is in flip-flops. “I thought a plane had just crashed. It smelled of sulfur, like when you light firecrackers. I left my apartment, there was no more stairwell. » Jihane saw the collapsed elevator, falling to the bottom of its tunnel. “We don’t really realize,” says Abdel, still traumatized. “I slept in my boxers on the sofa,” adds Rudy. I heard a big boom, I thought it was a missile. When I got up, I saw emptiness. There was no more wall. » At their request, the firefighters and only the firefighters return to the apartments to collect some personal belongings, papers, a pair of shoes, a warm coat.
Jean-Christophe Sounalet / SO
Firefighters inspect the building to define the precautionary measures to take.
Was the building in good condition?
At 4:10 a.m., Thomas returned from a party at a neighbor’s house on the ground floor. “I didn’t understand what was happening. My bay window exploded. I heard calling for help. We saw the resident of the apartment that had just exploded, hanging in the air by one foot. We couldn’t help him, we felt totally helpless. » Thomas, like other tenants, is angry. “This building is in poor condition. We have water infiltrations, cracks, we are relaunching. I’ve never seen anyone. »
The “Les vignes pourpres” residence was delivered in 2016 on order from Domofrance. “The building, powered by gas, is recent,” defends Eric Mangiarotta, director of real estate and social management for the lessor. We encountered some difficulties in receiving the work, but it is very commonplace. This Wednesday’s explosion had nothing to do with that. Everything suggests that it is accidental in nature. »
Jean-Christophe Sounalet / SO
The debris was thrown several meters. The windows of the apartments opposite were broken.
Avoid looting
Of the 44 victims, only seven asked to be rehoused by Domofrance and the town of Puilboreau. They will be in bungalows at the town’s campsite. The others managed to find accommodation solutions with relatives. The area is closed to access until further notice. Precautionary measures will be taken by the lessor who has hired a company to secure the premises, “H24 to avoid looting”. The victims will be directed to other apartments out of the 700 owned by Domofrance in the La Rochelle area.
