Between December 2002 and May 2003, after a very rainy period, a large-scale landslide occurred at the foot of the La Barre des Dourbes mountain. The entire slope between the hamlets of Villard des Dourbes and Vaumet was destabilised by this landslide of the Jurassic period's black earth. A smaller landslide had previously occurred higher uphill in May 2002.

With this landslide, which was 3km long and 250 to 300 metres wide, around 70 hectares of land were moved to a depth of 10 to 20 metres. This corresponds to nearly 10 million cubic metres of displaced material with recorded speeds of up to 10 metres per day.

Fortunately, this large-scale landslide did not result in any fatalities or casualties, but the physical damage was significant, with the destruction of : a house, a road linking two hamlets, part of the D569 road, as well as water and electricity services.

A state of natural disaster was recognised for the Town Municipality of Digne, declared by Ministerial Order in February 2003. Since then, the landslide has stabilised, the D569 road has been diverted and a road has been built to link the hamlets of Vaumet and Villard.