Residents of village in south-west France told to evacuate due to cracks in homes

Residents of a village in south-west France are being told by authorities to prepare for evacuation, as cracks have appeared across the majority of buildings and many are at risk of collapse.

The commune of Viella (Hautes-Pyrénées) has sunk around 1.6 metres in recent years due to landslides in the surrounding hills. 

While local authorities originally planned to carry out renovation works for the cracks, the risk of widespread damage is increasingly high. Neighbouring communes including Esterre are also threatened.

A majority of buildings in the tiny commune, more than 88 buildings including more than 20 main homes, are at risk of collapse.

Locals are despondent over the situation, but a lack of alternatives mean many see no choice but to depart despite living in the commune their entire life.

Landslides cause cracks

Unlike most other instances of homes affected by cracks in France – caused by droughts shrinking and expanding the clay soil that properties are built over – the issue in Viella is related to its position in the foothills of the Pyrénées.

The village has sunk around 1.6 metres in recent years, as repeated landslides in the area have impacted the village’s foundations.

A major landslide in 2018 caused several homes to be classified as too dangerous to live in or be repaired and they were subsequently destroyed. 

Many others have remained, but the situation has not improved.

Buildings have “low cracks, high cracks, and diagonal cracks… [whole structures] are completely unstable,” said president of the village’s victims association Joël Acquier to media outlet TF1. 

Cracks have appeared both on the outside and inside of several buildings including homes, making them too unsafe to live in.

At the same time, the risk of future landslides have not subsided, only adding further stress.

“There are two areas located [nearby] that could collapse with a volume of 300,000 cubic meters, roughly 500,000 tonnes. In the worst-case scenario, if the two areas were to collapse together, it could reach the top of the village,” Mr Acquier added. 

Even smaller landslides could further impact the stability and foundations of properties with visible cracks.

Requests for natural disaster cover

Locals have petitioned mairies to request natural disaster (catastrophe naturelle) status for the commune from government officials.

This would allow impacted owners to make insurance claims over the issues, which cannot be made otherwise due to the nature of the damage.

Local authorities would also be able to benefit from the 'Fonds Barnier' scheme, allowing them to purchase threatened homes more easily (at a value estimated by the official France-Domaines service) to then be demolished. 

It also provides funding for prevention and improvements to existing properties, and rehousing etc for homeowners.

However, some insurance companies are now refusing to cover homes in the area – a running theme in areas with a high chance of natural disasters – adding another barrier to residents remaining in the area. 

“All my memories are here. Even the children don't want to come anymore,” said one resident to TF1. 

She claims that money offered for her property is not enough to relocate, and that the bank “won’t help” because of the risk to her home.