A horrible tragedy took place on Sunday August 6, 2023 in the south of France. That day, a child aged only six died following a fall from a branch, caused by violent gusts of wind, as reported by the local channel BFM DICI the same day. This tragedy took place in the middle of the afternoon, near the nautical base of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, located in the department of Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence. According to information disclosed by THE Dauphine Libere, it was actually poplar branches that fell on three families present on the beach that day. Besides the death of a six-year-old child, the fall of this famous branch also seriously injured three other people, who were also on the beach at the same time. These three victims are all women, aged 13, 23 and 60 respectively. Originally from Toulon, Dunkirk and Orléans, the latter were taken care of on the spot by the emergency services.
Strong winds: a 17-year-old teenager also died in Cap d’Agde
In the end, only the six-year-old boy could not be saved. On their side, the three injured people were urgently evacuated to Marseille hospitals, thanks to the intervention of three helicopters. Following this tragedy, a judicial inquiry was opened, with the aim of determining the exact circumstances which led to the death of this six-year-old child. For their part, the festivities which were planned for the same evening within the commune have been canceled. The Town Hall of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon has enacted a municipal decree announcing the closure of the area near the nautical base, where the poplars at the origin of this tragedy are located. The latter will therefore be inaccessible to the public from Monday August 7, 2023. The fall of this famous branch took place when a large part of the south of France was affected by violent winds on Sunday August 6, 2023. This drama is not the only one to have performed in the south of France this weekend. Indeed, a 17-year-old teenager also died in Cap d’Agde the day before, following an accident at Luna Park. Here again, the strong winds would be at the origin of this tragedy.