In December 1959, the Malpasset dam collapsed after a month of heavy rains, unleashing a 10-meter-high wave of mud that surged through the Reyran valley and reached the outskirts of Fréjus. The dam, built in 1952 and designed in an arch shape, had held 50 million liters of water before it gave way. The disaster resulted in 423 deaths, including 135 children, and left thousands injured. Notably, there were no warning signs that indicated the dam was in danger, and the collapse occurred suddenly.
The Malpasset dam was one of the largest in France at the time of its construction, and its failure was a significant engineering disaster. The event led to a reevaluation of dam safety standards and construction practices across Europe. The collapse was attributed to a combination of factors, including the dam's design, the heavy rainfall, and the underlying geology of the area.
Sixty years after the disaster, survivors gathered at the site to reflect on the events of that day. Among them was Simone Mercier, who was 12 years old when the dam collapsed. She shared her personal account of the tragedy, offering a glimpse into the fear and chaos experienced by those who lived through the event. Her story, along with others, helps to preserve the memory of the disaster and the lives lost.
The return of the survivors to the site served as both a commemoration and a reminder of the importance of infrastructure safety. The event highlighted the lasting impact of the disaster on the community and the resilience of those who survived. It also underscored the need for continued vigilance in engineering and environmental planning to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Malpasset Dam Collapse in 1959 Revisited by Survivors
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Original sources:
- 🇫🇷Télérama



