et-Garonne – Meauzac: an explosion followed by a fire causes the death of a septuagenarian

An explosion that occurred late in the morning in Meauzac in Tarn-et-Garonne, around 11:30 a.m., destroyed a home. Unfortunately, emergency services discovered the lifeless body of the owner, a 76-year-old man, in the rubble of his house.

A large-scale intervention

Quickly alerted, the Tarn-et-Garonne firefighters deployed significant resources to control the fire resulting from the explosion and secure the scene. Several specialized teams were mobilized:

• The USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teamspecializing in search and rescue in urban environments;
• The Drones Unitto carry out aerial reconnaissance and locate possible victims;
• The Cynotechnique teamaccompanied by dogs trained to detect the presence of people under debris.

Despite the efficiency and speed of the operations, the emergency services could only note the death of the septuagenarian.

An ongoing investigation

At this time, the exact circumstances of the explosion remain to be determined. Local authorities, supported by disaster experts, have opened an investigation to understand the origins of this tragic event. Investigations are focusing on possible accidental causes. The town of Meauzac is deeply shaken by this tragedy.

Photo credit: David BONNANS SDIS 82 photo and video unit.