More than 200 men were lost at sea during this storm
Who remembers the days of September 19 and 20, 1930, when an extremely violent storm caused heavy loss of life and damage to the fleet?
More than 200 men disappeared at sea during this storm which caught the dinghies fishing around 300 miles west and northwest of Penmarc'h. It lasted more than 30 hours with winds turning south-southwest, force 10-11. 27 vessels sank, 50 of which were too badly damaged to ever set sail again.
Étel is particularly affected and is certainly experiencing the most dramatic episode of its tuna epic.
The newspaper of the time "L'Ouest-Éclair" reports:
"If there is a port where anxiety reigns, it is Étel, which has a very lively share in the mourning of our coastline. This afternoon of September 23 seems as sad as a day of November 2, as a kind of commemoration of the deceased. One hears murmurs along the pier. One does not dare to ask for news, there are on these quays mothers, wives, little children and young women waiting."
The French government did not remain insensitive to this disaster. The Under-Secretary of the Navy and Senator for Morbihan, informed the Minister of the Merchant Navy. The latter, aware of the critical situation of several fishing boats off the coast, quickly sent two torpedo boats from the second squadron of Brest to assist them.
One by one the dinghies joined the port with their flags at half mast, all in a lamentable state. The list of the victims is growing. 10 boats never returned to port. There were 72 casualties. Their average age was 29 years. Half of them were married. It was not uncommon for families to sail together, and many women mourned a husband and son. Dozens of families were torn apart, dislocated.
This catastrophe will precipitate the end of the dundae.