French Mayor Charged With Manslaughter Over Deadly 2014 Flood
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published November 11, 2016 | 01:55 AM
BIZIERS, France, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2016 ) : The mayor of a southern French town has been charged with involuntary homicide over the 2014 deaths of four people in a campsite located inside a flood zone, court sources said Thursday.
In September 2014, a couple, as well as a woman and her daughter, died when the Bitoulet River, a tributary of the Orb, flooded the campsite in the spa town of Lamalou-les-Bains. The municipal site, three metres (ten feet) above the river, had been established in 1982.
In 1989, the area on which it was built was declared a flood-risk zone on account of the severe storms that often caused rivers in the region to overflow. A criminal probe was opened after the tragedy, which lead the spa town's mayor, Philippe Tailland, to be placed under judicial investigation -- the equivalent under French law of being charged.
Since Tuesday, six other local officials have been formally questioned in connection with the incident and three others, including Tailland's predecessor, were referred to an investigating magistrate.
The investigation focussed on the exact cause of the disaster -- probably the rupturing of a natural dam made of vegetation -- and on why the campsite remained open after the designation of the flood zone. Thailland had only been in his post for a few months at the time of the accident.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From World
-
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
9 minutes ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
9 minutes ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
51 minutes ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
51 minutes ago -
US reinstates open internet rules rescinded under Trump
51 minutes ago -
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
1 hour ago
-
Portugal marks 50 years of democracy with far right on the rise
1 hour ago -
Oman, UAE deluge 'most likely' linked to climate change: scientists
2 hours ago -
BHP launches $38.8 billion takeover bid for rival Anglo American
2 hours ago -
Saudi oil giant Aramco agrees major FIFA sponsorship deal
2 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
2 hours ago -
Haiti transitional council sworn in after months of violence
3 hours ago