'Stella T.'s daughter claims her mother was offended after being labeled as unresponsive: she alleges her mother didn't refuse to leave their burning home in Aude.'
Aude Wildfire: Dispute Over Evacuation of Victim Stella T.
A dispute has arisen over the evacuation of Stella T., a victim of the recent wildfire in the Aude region of southern France. Stella T., aged 65, from Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, tragically lost her life in the blaze.
According to accounts from Stella's daughter, Lydie, and her neighbours, Stella did not refuse to evacuate her house. This contrasts with the official version by Xavier de Volontat, the village mayor, who suggested that Stella may have been unconscious or refused evacuation. Lydie finds this implication insulting, stating that her mother was conscious and possibly willing to leave but was not able to do so in time.
The wildfire, which affected thousands of hectares, involved over 1,500 firefighters in the battle against it. The fire spread rapidly under difficult conditions, including extreme heat and dry, windy weather fueled by a severe heat wave across Europe.
On Tuesday, the fire threatened two neighbourhoods in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse. According to the accounts, Xavier de Volontat claimed that gendarmes and representatives of the town hall went to the Stella neighbourhood to invite residents to evacuate between 5:30 PM and 6 PM. However, two other witnesses, residents of the same neighbourhood, left between 6 PM and 6:15 PM without having seen any municipal councilor or gendarmes beforehand.
Lydie made multiple attempts between 7 PM and 2 AM to locate her mother and get information about her situation. She contacted the firefighters who advised her to keep her mother confined in her house. However, the situation became alarming as her mother reported the living room was on fire, the veranda had exploded, and she was having trouble breathing. Lydie advised her mother to lock herself in the bathroom, but it seems Stella refused to leave her house, stating she was not at risk.
Tragically, Stella T. died in her house, which was consumed by the flames. The firefighters of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse informed Lydie that they were sending someone to her mother's house but could not locate her. The police came to Lydie's home in Montpellier at 5 AM to announce her mother's death without providing details.
The Aude Prefecture announced the death of a person in the fire with a press release at 5:30 AM. Lydie contests the mayor's version, stating she spoke to her mother on the phone around 6 PM on Tuesday.
This tragic event serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of wildfires and the importance of clear communication during such crises.
- The dispute over Stella T's evacuation during the Aude Wildfire has sparked debates in the realm of general-news, as differing accounts about her refusal to evacuate contrast with the official version provided by the village mayor.
- Amidst the backdrop of crime-and-justice, Lydie, Stella T's daughter, expresses her dissatisfaction with the Mayor's implication that her mother might have refused evacuation, arguing that Stella was conscious and possibly willing to leave but was hindered due to the alarming situation and the fire spreading rapidly.
