Following the lahars (mudflows) that occurred in the Prêcheur River bed, technical teams from the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique visited the site on Monday, January 8, and Tuesday, January 9. They were able to conduct surveys and make an initial assessment of the necessary measures.
4.71 meters is the thickness, at deck level, of the volcanic material deposited by these new landslides, which have intensified over the past few days.
On Wednesday, January 10, 2018, the Collectivité’s technical departments gathered near the Pont du Prêcheur, in the presence of the mayor and the subprefect of Saint-Pierre, to determine which projects to schedule.
In light of the possibility of further mudslides, and in order to ensure the safety of residents and property, Executive Councilor Daniel MARIE-SAINTE, in consultation with the President of the Executive Council, has ordered that preventive dredging be carried out immediately from upstream of the bridge to the river’s mouth. This operation must be carried out in accordance with regulatory provisions governing riverwork and following authorization issued by the DEAL (Directorate of the Environment, Planning, and Housing).
The Territory will carry out the initial response efforts through an already operational contract designed to provide a rapid response to emergencies.
In anticipation of such events, the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique had carried out work to reinforce the riprap installed along the riverbanks.
These measures ensured the safe passage of the lahars, thereby protecting residents of the Abymes neighborhood in Le Prêcheur from muddy floods and maintaining the connection between the town of Le Prêcheur and the Abymes neighborhood.
The new Prêcheur Bridge and its associated infrastructure have thus proven their resilience to this type of event. The old bridge would have been submerged, or even swept away.
The on-call teams of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique are maintaining heightened surveillance of the area until further notice.
Source: http://www.collectivitedemartinique.mq/point-de-situation-le-pont-du-precheur-a-lepreuve-des-lahars/
