PICTURES. End of the demining operation in Le Touquet, four explosive defense blocks defused
The prefecture of Pas-de-Calais had announced a few days ago the conduct of a vast demining operation on the beach of Le Touquet. Four “defense blocks”, underwater explosive devices, were neutralized.
Two days of an operation as delicate as necessary for the Group of Clearance Divers (GDP) of the Channel. On December 6 and 7, they were tasked with neutralizing four defense blocks found on the beach at Le Touquet.
These anti-landing devices laid by the German forces during the Second World War, are traps buried in the exposed sand, of which only the stake remains slightly. When hit, it triggers the explosive charge contained within the block. These machines could therefore have caused damage to the surrounding massifs.
To realize this, just consider the important security device deployed to carry out the operation. The GPD Manche provided the assistance of the national gendarmerie, the national police, the fire brigade, the SAMU, the civil aviation and was associated with the airport of Le Touquet, the municipalities of Le Touquet and its neighbor Etaples as well as to the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais and the DDTM.
A security perimeter of 1,650 meters had been established around the blocks to be defused, and the operation took up two full afternoons. Within this perimeter, the population had to remain entirely confined, with the obligation to remain open windows and closed shutters, a procedure which aims to limit the risk of glass breakage.
Le Touquet beach was, of course, closed to traffic and the adjacent motorhome area was completely evacuated. Several roads have been closed and air and water traffic prohibited within the perimeter.
The town hall of Le Touquet announced the end of the operation at 5 p.m. on its website. “Congratulations to all the teams and thank you all for respecting the measures. wrote the municipal teams.