Almost a year ago, on October 2, 2020, Storm Alex hit the Alpes-Maritimes with full force, resulting in 10 deaths and 8 missing persons. Today, after extensive searches, the investigation is soon to be closed.
On October 20 next, a first civil hearing will bring an end to the ongoing investigation for the past year aimed at finding the missing persons from the disaster. With the closure of this investigation, the missing will be officially declared deceased.
However, two of the eight missing persons will still not be considered dead because they could not be identified: “For the other two, we have no identity, no other missing person report,” states Parvine Derivery, the deputy prosecutor on the case.
For the other six missing persons, who have been identified and were born between 1921 and 1988, the families will thus be able to obtain a death certificate, something they have been awaiting for a long time: “Without this certificate, grieving is impossible,” stated a family member of a victim to 20minutes
During this investigation, hundreds of people participated in the search efforts. Numerous resources were deployed, obviously French, but also Italian and Monegasque.
Despite these measures implemented, several people remained missing. However, the judiciary believes it is possible that the bodies may reappear one day, yet it has decided to close the case nonetheless.
