French hamlet cut off by mudslide as access to ski stations reopens

As the road to two French Alpine ski stations reopened, a village in the Pyrenees mountains was cut off by a mudslide on Saturday. Two residents were flown out by helicopter for health reasons.

The French Alps

The main road to the ski stations of Ménuiries and Val Thorens reopened, 24 hours after two huge rocks fell on it, blocking access to cars and coaches and tearing the tarmac off the road’s surface.

By Saturday afternoon the road had been repaired and the rocks were moved, allowing first coaches and then cars to pass.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, a mudslide swept away 150 metres of road, cutting off a hamlet near the village of Gazost in the Pyrenees mountains.

A barn was also swept away and a house was in danger, according to Gazost mayor Pierre Dare.

Two residents who were unwell were evacuated by helicopter, leaving about 20 people completely cut off from the outside world.

Heavy snow has caused waterlogging of soil in the area, which is a possible cause of the mudslide.