Month: November 2024

In the aftermath of Storm Leslie, which struck Monaco and the south of France in mid-October, the French government has declared a state of natural disaster in 32 towns and cities across the Alpes-Maritimes.

Storm Leslie arrived on the Côte d’Azur with enormous force in mid-October, beginning 16th October. Rainfall totals in the Alpes-Maritimes’ western and mountain areas saw averages of over 100mm, with one village, Caussols, recording a terrifying 311mm.

As a result of the deluge and the damage it caused to property and infrastructure, the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes issued an interministerial decree in the Official Journal of the French Republic, published on 5th November, recognising 32 towns and cities in the department as natural disaster areas.

Specifically, the decree “recognises the state of natural disaster for Storm Leslie for the period 16th October to 20th October 2024 for the phenomenon of ‘floods and mudslides,’ which includes overflowing watercourses, runoff and torrential floods”.

The list, which includes Nice, Grasse, Vence and Mandelieu-La Napoule, as well as smaller communes in the area, has been compiled to allow victims of the storm to file estimated loss statements with their insurance companies, who must compensate the policyholders under France’s Law 82-600.

Any community that requires, but has not yet filed, for natural disaster status is being asked to do so within 24 months.

For a full list of the communes covered by the recent ruling, click here.

To read the decree in full, click here.

Read related:

Over 330mm of rain falls on Alpes-Maritimes during red alert, Cannes mayor questions warning reliability

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Photo source: Département des Alpes-Maritimes

A man out walking in the forests near Bormes-les-Mimosas in the Var has lost a leg after an elderly hunter mistakenly shot him during a wild boar chase.

According to Var Matin, a 38-year-old father had his leg amputated after he was accidentally shot by an 82-year-old hunter.

The local newspaper reports that the younger man had been out mushroom-picking with two friends in a section of the hinterland, near the Route de Cabasson, open to walkers on 30th October when the incident occurred. Their excursion had begun around two hours before a group of hunters arrived and started tracking wild boar.

Some time later, one of the hunters, an 82-year-old man, is believed to have mistakenly fired at the group, hitting the father from Giens in the leg from just 20 meters away.

The newspaper reports that the man was transported to a hospital in Marseille, around 100 kilometers away, in serious condition. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, his injured leg was later amputated.

According to Var Matin, the pensioner has been remanded in police custody, and a gendarmerie-led investigation has been launched. Initially opened for “unintentional violence with a weapon,” the investigation may be reclassified as “unintentional violence with a weapon resulting in permanent disability” in light of the amputation.

The accused reportedly belongs to the Bormes Lou Pardigaou hunting group.

Hunting accidents are somewhat common in France. During the 2023/24 hunting season, six people lost their lives due to hunting-related incidents, while another 97 were injured.

The autumn/winter hunting season began on the French Riviera on 8th September. It will continue until 12th January 2025 in the Alpes-Maritimes and until 28th February 2025 in the Var.

Read related:

French hunting reform fails to hit home with worried public

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: Unsplash

A recent report from France’s Ministry of the Interior reveals that domestic violence has risen by 10% in 2023, with police and gendarmerie services recording 271,000 victims across the country. Among the regions most affected, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) ranks as the sixth highest for domestic abuse rates, following the Pas-de-Calais, Réunion, Nord, Somme, and Seine-Saint-Denis.

The report highlights that two-thirds of domestic abuse cases in France involve physical violence, with verbal and psychological abuse also contributing substantially to the recorded cases. PACA’s figures reflect these national patterns, with physical violence dominating and the majority of victims being women, who make up 85% of all domestic abuse cases. Men, conversely, are most frequently identified as the perpetrators.

This troubling rise has been partly attributed to increased public awareness, which has encouraged more victims to report incidents. However, barriers remain significant; only 14% of victims reported their abuse to authorities. In PACA, as in other heavily affected regions, the urban centers report higher incidents of domestic violence per capita compared to rural areas.

Alarmingly, 2023 also saw 115 domestic violence-related homicides and 437 attempted homicides across France.

Domestic violence is illegal in France and is punishable by law. The accused risks up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine, and for aggravating circumstances, up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine.

Victims of violence by a partner or ex-partner can call the Samu on 15, the fire brigade on 18, or go directly to the hospital, to a doctor or midwife who will have the injuries recorded. Many associations can also help victims, such as Violences femmes info, reachable by phone on 3919 24-hours a day, seven days a week, or the France Victimes network association, available on 116 006.

Victims can also request emergency and temporary accommodation while organising rehousing.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

See also:

New safety and support app for domestic violence victims now available in Monaco

Photo credit: Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash