Floods cause damage and deaths in Bouches-du-Rhône

Several communes in the Bouches-du-Rhône department suffered material damage after severe floods on October 19 and 20, which resulted in three deaths. The incidents have prompted local authorities to take action to assist affected communities.

Department mobilizes 5 million euros in aid

Martine Vassal, president of the Departmental Council, announced on October 21 the mobilization of an exceptional fund of 5 million euros to help the affected communes repair the damage. This fund aims to support the restoration of infrastructure and public facilities damaged by the floods.

Vassal visits affected communes

Vassal visited several communes, including Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts, Saint-Chamas, and Istres, to meet with residents, mayors, and personnel deployed on the ground. In Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts, where one of the flood-related deaths occurred, Vassal expressed her deep emotion and conveyed her condolences to the victim's family and close relatives.

Aid details remain unclear

The 5 million euro fund is intended to help restore infrastructure and public facilities damaged by the weather, financially supporting municipalities in the necessary work to repair the damage and restore the operation of affected facilities. However, the precise details of the allocation and distribution of this aid are not yet detailed.

Road repairs not included in the fund

According to La Provence, this budget does not cover the repair of roads. Damage assessments are still ongoing and are expected to take at least a week. This delay complicates the planning of further assistance and repair efforts.

Bouches-du-Rhône has prior disaster aid experience

As a territorial authority, the Bouches-du-Rhône Department regularly mobilizes aid after disasters. In July 2025, following the fire that affected northern Marseille and Pennes-Mirabeau, the institution had submitted for voting an aid of 250,000 euros intended for residents most severely affected.