Residents protest recurring floods

One week after severe weather struck Corsica, causing significant damage in the Eastern Plain, a dozen residents of Prunelli-di-Fiumorbo gathered at the "Les Jardins de la Via Romana" housing development along the RT 10 road to raise awareness about recurring floods. According to the residents, the area has been flooded twice in five years.

Residents demand action on drainage

Noël, one of the members of the collective, stated that the Corsica Collectivity had promised to carry out works on a drainage system under the RT 10 road after the 2021 flood, but the works have been delayed. The residents are seeking to speed up the works and express frustration over the lack of explanations from authorities.

Officials blame past planning errors

Jean-Félix Acquaviva, an executive council member of the Corsica Collectivity in charge of transport, acknowledged the emotional impact on families affected by the floods but stated that the central cause of the recurring problem is that housing developments were created in an area unsuitable for real estate. He emphasized that the authorizations given 20 years ago should not have been issued.

Complex solution needed for flooding

The collectivity believes that installing a drain under the RT 10 would not be sufficient to solve the flooding issue. A hydraulic study conducted over two years concluded that retention basins upstream and dredging works downstream are necessary, as these are the responsibilities of the intercommunality.

Next steps for flood mitigation

Acquaviva announced that a meeting is planned for November 6 with state services to obtain authorization under the Water Law. He stated that the Corsica Collectivity is ready to carry out works if there is a chain of works carried out by those with expertise on the territory to create retention basins and upstream works.

Collective seeks broader support

The collective is considering new actions in the coming days, as they are in the process of gathering more affected residents beyond the 13 property owners in the collective.