Roughly 450 pilgrims have had to be evacuated from the Lourdes shrine in France after heavy rainfall caused a riverbank to burst and flood the site.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is a popular destination for Roman Catholics, was partially submerged after the River Ousse overflowed on Saturday, according to Euronews.
The site, which some believe to be the place where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1858, was temporarily closed following the flooding after its altar was submerged under water.
La Grotte de Lourdes à nouveau accessible au public.
— Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Lourdes (@lourdes_france) September 7, 2024
Grâce à la mobilisation des équipes du Sanctuaire, la Grotte a pu être nettoyée à la suite des inondations survenues ce jour.
La Grotte est désormais réouverte aux pèlerins 🙏
En savoir plus ➡️https://t.co/LJKLBpOYXt pic.twitter.com/YjhhT3QhE9
Many pilgrims and visitors were evacuated as staff, volunteers and emergency services worked to clear the floodwater and reopen the sanctuary.
The shrine attracts millions of pilgrims every year. It has suffered flooding in the past, with a deluge in October 2012 causing significant damage to the holy site.
