Hamlet cut off by massive landslide

RESIDENTS of a hamlet in the Hautes-Pyrénées looked out of their windows on Friday afternoon to find they had been cut off from the rest of the world.

A 150-metre stretch of road, the only access route serving the community in Gazost, collapsed under a massive landslide. A barn was swept almost 1km away by the rock and mud - and one house was almost taken with it.

No one was injured, but two residents in need of long-term medical attention were airlifted out by helicopter.

The hamlet has an official population of 140, but most of the properties are second homes. Only 20 people were at home at the time.

Mayor Pierre Darré told TF1: "We had a huge amount of snow in February, followed by heavy rainfall."

He said he hoped a temporary road could be set up in the coming days to restore access.

Pyrénées : Gazost coupé du monde par une coulée de boue. Les images impressionnantes ici >>http://t.co/s1Xkszk7a1 pic.twitter.com/NwjlMNP3Px— Le Parisien (@le_Parisien) 1 Mars 2015