Olympic torch relay in Sète and Balaruc: transport, security, drones… warnings from the Prefecture

On Monday May 13, at the very beginning of the afternoon, the Olympic Flame will leave Balaruc-les-Bains. Midi Libre – DQ

For the passage of the flame procession between Balaruc-les-Bains and Sète, the roads concerned will be closed between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Orders will prohibit the docking and movement of boats near the relay. Train traffic will also be temporarily disrupted.

The Olympic flame, which arrives this May 8 in Marseille, will be in Hérault from this Monday, May 13 for a relay which will cross Montpellier but also Balaruc and Sète.

Francois-Xavier Lauch, the Prefect of Hérault, detailed this Tuesday, May 7, the very heavy resources that will be mobilized across the entire department: 1  ;nbsp;535 police officers and gendarmes, 180 firefighters, 4 mine clearance teams, 10 dog teams, 2 helicopters, 7 drones, 8 boats for the coastal zone and mine clearance divers.

Nearly 400 police officers and gendarmes in Sète and Balaruc

A security bubble of 115 police officers and gendarmes will supervise the torch bearers as closely as possible. This escort, designated for the entire relay, will officiate until the opening ceremony of the Games.

250 additional police personnel will be deployed in Sète and 127 mobile force agents in Balaruc to supervise the relay which will evolve in its convoy configuration "engagement" to Sète with 31 following vehicles. On the other hand, on Mont Saint-Clair (11 h 30-11 h 55), the "agile" will only include 13 vehicles.

Call for "adapt" its mobility

For this day of May 13, the Prefecture announces traffic restriction orders on the route and specifies that the roads concerned will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the journey between Balaruc and Sète. Disruptions on the local SNCF network are also expected between 1:50 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. with the opening of two bridges in Sète. Access to the city center will be divided by the route of the flame. The Prefect therefore encourages users to advance their journeys or even change mode of transport if they are impacted ."

Drones flying over the flame will be shot down!

Impact also to be expected for boats which will be prohibited from docking at outbuildings in the public maritime domain in Balaruc-les-Bains while navigation will be regulated in the port of Sète-Frontignan. Any vessel parking near the seaside relay will be prohibited.

Finally, final, very clear warning: any drone attempting to fly over the flame procession will be shot down.

More information on www.agglopole.fr/la-journée-de-la-flamme I subscribe to read more