The co-owner of campsite Le Genevrier in Charlevoix watched helplessly on Monday as nature ravaged the fruits of his labours.
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At noon, unoccupied caravans were swept away by the current of the Rivière des Mares.
“At least twenty,” breathed Paul Labbé into the TVA Nouvelles microphone at the end of the afternoon, his voice full of emotion.
Mr Labbé says he has dedicated five decades of his life to Camping Le Genevrier. He describes the damage as “incalculable”.
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“This is a campsite that is over 50 years old. We grew up with it. It’s part of our DNA,” he said, close to tears.
In the morning a bridge gave way and the banks collapsed due to the force of the flood water.
“We lost control from 9 a.m.,” he said. By 11 a.m. it was completely flooded. The river rose and flowed onto the campsite.”
Because the premises were inaccessible at the end of the day, the Labbé family does not know the extent of the damage at the moment.
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Twelve of the 35 chalets were flooded and some were occupied. Some employees were on the premises before the evacuation.
“There was no one anywhere, but everything is destroyed,” he fears.
A restaurant and a lobby were not open.