On July 19, Montpellier Zoo was forced to exceptionally close its doors due to morning thunderstorms. The severe weather caused power outages, damaging the sound system, essential for visitor safety. The park is expected to reopen the following day once the facilities are fully restored. On Saturday, July 19, Montpellier Zoo, a popular destination for families and nature lovers, was forced to close its doors following the violent storms that hit the city. Although all the animals remained safe, the damage forced management to take this unusual decision to ensure everyone’s safety. Causes of the closure: from thunderstorms to power outages During the night of Friday to Saturday, Montpellier experienced powerful thunderstorms causing sporadic power outages. The zoo was not spared, with a damaged sound system. This system is crucial for transmitting security alerts when needed, which prompted the management team to suspend activities for the day. Fortunately, thanks to the rapid response of Enedis teams, the power outages only affected a few homes and for a short time.Impact on Local Events
The storms not only affected the zoo, but also caused the postponement of the World Pétanque Championships, scheduled for July 17-21 in Montpellier. At 1 p.m. for the women and 2 p.m. for the men, the games were finally able to resume in the afternoon following an announcement on the event’s Facebook group. Infrastructure returned to normal quickly, and the rest of the city was largely back on track by Saturday afternoon.
Reopening on Sunday
The good news for visitors is that Montpellier Zoo plans to reopen its doors on Sunday, following its regular hours. The necessary repairs to the system are estimated to be complete by Saturday evening. The decision to close demonstrates the park’s management’s commitment to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all its visitors. For more information on this type of event and its impact on the city, please consult the outlook for Montpellier and other recent closures in the region.