Emergency Evacuation in Lyon as Buildings Threaten to Collapse
Lyon, July 1st – A major emergency operation has been underway since approximately 11:00 AM today on Rue Terme, in Lyon’s 1st arrondissement, due to a significant risk of collapse involving two residential buildings. This information was confirmed by actu Lyon from multiple sources, corroborating an earlier report by Le Progrès.
Rhône firefighters confirmed to actu Lyon a “building disorder” at two addresses on this street, located at the bottom of the slopes of Croix-Rousse. The urgent intervention of emergency services was initiated “at the request of the City of Lyon.”
Around 20 to 30 Residents Evacuated
Approximately 25 firefighters have been on-site since 11:00 AM at 10 and 12 Rue Terme, according to the SDMIS (Firefighters of the Metropolis of Lyon and Rhône). Seven vehicles are present, and a “reconnaissance is underway” with the assistance of a specialized company for a building reinforcement operation.
According to our information, a party wall between numbers 10 and 12 on the street is threatening to collapse. The residents of both buildings have been evacuated by firefighters. Around 20 to 30 people have been preventively evacuated from these residential buildings. They are being cared for at the 1st arrondissement town hall. Rue Terme remains closed to traffic in the early afternoon. Specialized teams of firefighters are on site, along with the national police and CRDF for gas safety. A specialized engineer is inspecting the wall, and the City of Lyon may issue a dangerous building order.
Residents Express Concerns Over Building Condition
“We’re crossing our fingers that it doesn’t collapse this time,” said one resident encountered on site, expressing concerns about the “poor interior condition” of one of the buildings managed by the social landlord Alliade. “Alliade is not doing what is necessary. Sooner or later, it could happen.”
“There was water damage, but nothing is moving. Since June 25, 2025, I haven’t heard back from the agency, nothing is moving, everything is deteriorating! It’s habitable, but it was much better in my time… nothing is repaired… The lighting doesn’t work in the stairs,” he lamented.
“We were woken up by the firefighters! They told us to hurry! We didn’t have time to grab our belongings, just a backpack, nothing useful except our phones. I was in the shower, and they told me: ‘When we knock on your door, you open!” recounted another evacuated resident.
Several evacuated residents also reported accumulating problems in these buildings. “There are many problems in this building, it’s abandoned, there’s drug dealing, the Chamas Tacos is causing a mess… When I arrived, it was clean, now there’s no light,” stated a tenant.
At this time, residents do not know if they will be able to return to their homes today.
Source: actu.fr, Le Progrès, SDMIS (Sapeurs-pompiers de la métropole de Lyon et du Rhône)
