Following the severe floods in mid-July, some cafés and restaurants have not yet been able to reopen and still face an uncertain future.
Almost six weeks ago, during the night of 14-15 July, severe flooding hit Luxembourg. In the capital, the Grund and Cloche d'Or neighbourhoods were severely affected, with Place Dargent ending up almost completely submerged.
It is now essential to help the affected companies quickly and simply, according to François Koepp, Secretary General of the Horesca Federation. The sector has already been badly hit by the health crisis, which is why the Federation worked alongside the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to create a "refundable aid", which has virtually turned into standard aid.
For two restaurants on Place Dargent, the cost of renovation is estimated in the six figures. In one of the two establishments, which belong to the same group, the damage is more extensive, with water reaching 50 centimetres. The wooden floor is waterlogged, and the kitchen is completely destroyed, Dominique Colaianni, co-founder of the group, explains.
As the restaurants are located in a "flood zone", the insurance will only cover up to €20,000. The owners are therefore hoping for help from the state, but the damage still has to be assessed. With the collective holiday and large number of people affected, it is very complicated to get craftsmen to come and draw up estimates.
The damage is so extensive that the managers of the restaurant "Sapori" do not know whether it will be worthwhile to reopen the establishment on Place Dargent. The restaurant had been open for just three months after being closed due to the pandemic. The management does not know when it will be able to get its staff back on the job.
The full report in Luxembourgish and French:
