A violent storm hit Lourdes, causing unprecedented flooding that brought the famous sanctuary to its knees.
The Gave de Pau river, flooding, invaded the cave of the apparitions, the spiritual heart of the place, forcing it to close its doors to pilgrims.
The images arriving from the French town are disconcerting: the cave, usually the destination of millions of faithful every year, is completely submerged by water.
Local authorities have declared a state of emergency and are working to quantify the damage and restore safety conditions.
“This is an unprecedented disaster,” said David Torchala, the sanctuary’s communications director. “The water rose very quickly, causing extensive damage to structures and infrastructure.”
Fortunately, there were no casualties, but many pilgrims were forced to leave the sanctuary and seek refuge in safer structures.
Religious services have been suspended and the future of the sanctuary's activities remains uncertain. Meanwhile, volunteers and rescue teams are working tirelessly to pump out water and clean up the flood-affected areas.
EDITORIAL TEAM
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