two years later, the investigation stalls, a tribute is paid to the victims

On the night of December 15 to 16, 2022, a violent fire ravaged a building in Vaulx-en-Velin, causing 10 victims, including four children. Two years after the tragedy, a gathering in tribute to the victims of the tragedy is planned in front of the building at 12 Chemin des Barques, from 6 p.m., this Monday, December 16.

Two years after the tragedy of Chemin des Barques, the Mas du Taureau district is still marked. L’association Victims of the Barques fire organise,like last yeara gathering this December 16 at 6 p.m. in front of the building ravaged by the flames.

Last year, nearly a hundred people attended this tribute. After speaking in front of City Hall, a procession reached the damaged building. Hundreds of white roses had been placed at the foot of the damaged building.

If the association intends to pay tribute once again to the victims and their loved ones with a symbolic gathering, it also wants to seize the opportunity of this sad anniversary “to take stock of the journey experienced by the victims for two years now”, she indicates in a press release published on social networks.

The association today denounces the difficulties that people affected by the tragedy of 2022 must face. “Institutions still demonstrate a lack of recognition of the consequences of this event on our lives,” deplores the association Victims of the fire of the boats in its text. The association, which was born the day after the tragedy, is chaired by Laetitia Berriguiga.

The victims today feel abandoned despite their appeal to the public authorities. “On October 22, a time for discussion was again requested from the Rhône prefect, still without response to this day,” deplores the association which demands “equal treatment with the victims of similar collective tragedies”.

In the middle of the night from December 15 to 16, 2022, a violent fire broke out on the ground floor of a seven-story building. The human toll is very heavy: six adults and four children died. Twenty-four other people were also injured, four of them seriously. The fire broke out shortly after three in the morning. The occupants were trapped in their sleep. Some jumped out of windows, others died from smoke poisoning.

Nearly 200 firefighters were mobilized to rescue victims and prevent the flames from spreading. Helpless and stunned witnesses filmed the blaze.

Very quickly, suspicion fell on a fire of human origin, which started from the lobby of the building. Intentional or not, the human trail was judged “more than likely.” According to residents, the hall was regularly damaged and squatted by drug dealers. The fire started from a sofa stored in the lobby of the building by these individuals. A sofa, anarchic and wild electrical connections, space heaters… so many elements which could have led to the tragedy.

“Residents have been asking Madame Le Maire for help for years. The police of Vaulx-en-Velin are aware, the mayor of Vaulx-en-Velin is aware. A horror like that must be happens to make it move, but it won’t move. declared a year after the disaster a disgruntled local resident, torn between anger and fatalism.

An investigation into “deliberate damage by fire leading to death” the day after the tragedy. Did it make it possible to identify those responsible? On December 6, 2023, eight people were taken into police custody and questioned in “dwithin the framework of the judicial information file opened on the charge of damage by dangerous means leading to death“, indicated the Lyon public prosecutor’s office at the time. The eight people were quickly released after being questioned.

Where are the investigations today? Two years after the events, the investigation has stalled.

More than 30 affected families had to be relocated. If rehousing was a priority for the authorities and local elected officials, it was also a complicated step, particularly because of the real estate tension in the Lyon region. Some families stayed in temporary accommodation for several months.

However, this tragedy led to an immense outpouring of solidarity in the town of Vaulx-en-Velin. Many residents donated clothes, food, basic necessities, but also money or toys for the children. A generosity which made it possible to raise nearly 18,000 euros. The drama had stirred people at the highest levels of the State. The Minister of the Interior at the time, Gérald Darmanin, made the trip to Vaulx-en-Velin.