The Calanques National Park in France, near Marseille, is heavily contaminated with industrial slag. Since mid-2025, teams have been removing toxic soil after tests revealed dangerous heavy‑metal levels.

Residents recall playing in the area unaware of the risks, while experts warn of the health risks for children. Cleanup efforts aim to make parts of the coastline safe again by 2026.

Correction, February 6, 2026: This video originally misspelled the names of Melody Gros and Jeremy Durand. That has now been corrected, and DW apologizes for the errors.