During and after a landslide: it’s not just clay that suffers consequences, it’s people too

On the evening of May 4, 1971, the population of the municipality of Saint-Jean-Vianney (Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean) fell victim to a severe and deadly landslide that engulfed 41 houses within minutes, creating a massive chasm and causing the deaths of 31 people of all ages. This article presents the results of a qualitative study conducted 29 years after the disaster, involving 42 adults interviewed in a semi-structured format. The participants in the study recalled the events that affected them the most, the emotions they experienced, and the consequences they faced in the months and years following the landslide. The findings show that, regardless of their level of exposure, all respondents were deeply affected by what they had experienced and felt that the event had profoundly disrupted many aspects of their lives.