Heavy rainfall in Lourdes Shrine in France caused flooding, leading to the evacuation of around 450 pilgrims. The flooding was a result of a nearby river overflowing into the popular pilgrimage site, submerging the grotto believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1858. The shrine was temporarily closed, with the altar underwater. Staff, volunteers and emergency services worked together to clear the floodwater and reopen the sanctuary. Local officials stated that those evacuated included pilgrims and residents from nearby hotels and campsites. The heavy rain that caused the flooding had been ongoing since Thursday. Lourdes is a significant pilgrimage site, attracting millions of visitors each year. Past flooding in October 2012 caused significant damage to the holy site. The name Lourdes is synonymous with pilgrimages, and its shrine is a place of deep spiritual significance, bringing people from around the world together to pray and seek solace. Despite the challenges posed by the flooding, efforts were made to ensure the safety of pilgrims and to restore the shrine to its revered state. The sanctuary reopened after the floodwaters were cleared, allowing pilgrims to resume their spiritual journeys and devotion to the site.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com
Christian pilgrims in Lourdes forced to evacuate due to overflowing nearby river
