IN THE DAUPHINE, A VILLAGE DEVASTATED BY A FLOW OF MUD AND ROCKS

It was at 5 p.m. yesterday that the flow of mud and rocks descending the Pontamafrey torrent ravaged part of the village of Pontamafrey, swept away the station and invaded the railway tracks and the national road.

We confirm that there are no personal accidents; but the material damage is significant.

The inhabitants of Pontamafrey had been alerted by those of Montpascal and Mont-Vernier. The flow made of enormous rocks detached from the Bonnet du Prêtre mountain had first formed a dam; but it broke and caused the accident.

As soon as the alarm was given, teams of workers, the Saint-Jean firefighters and hunters from the 13th battalion came running and have been working to restore traffic ever since. Trains stop at the Saint-Avre and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne stations. A pedestrian crossing has been established over the blocked road. It is hoped that traffic will be restored on the road and railway in two or three days.

The Saint-Jean sub-prefect, the prosecutor and the authorities are on the scene.