Isolated Swiss Resort Remains Inaccessible to External Connections
Severe flooding is wreaking havoc in multiple Swiss regions, pushing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. In the cantons of Graubünden and Valais, over 200 people are displaced. The transportation to the small village Zermatt, home to around 2000 residents, has come to a full halt.
Authorities in the cantons of Valais and Graubünden ordered evacuations of several homes on Friday. Around 230 people had to flee their homes in Valais, reports Marie-Claude Noth-Ecoeur, head of the population protection office, who spoke with the Swiss News Agency Keystone-SDA. Over 200 firefighters and numerous other forces were called in.
Since Friday afternoon, the renowned ski resort Zermatt has been isolated from the outside world due to the flood risk. The railway line between Visp and Zermatt is expected to remain closed until at least Saturday morning. The road traffic with replacement buses between Visp and Täsch, around five kilometers away, was also disrupted due to the closure of the road, as stated by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway company.
Heavy thunderstorms have been pounding the region for the past few days. Combined with the substantial snowmelt this year, the heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding. The Vispa River burst its banks. In Zermatt, the schools were closed, according to a local employee speaking to Keystone-SDA. Photos shared online show portions of the riverbanks along the Vispa flooded by a torrential deluge of muddy water.
Authorities in the canton of Valais forbade residents from walking alongside the Rhone River due to the flood danger. A similar prohibition was put in place in the Chablais region of Waadtland until Monday evening. According to official statements, the Rhone was forecasted to reach its peak level on Friday evening.
In the southeastern canton of Graubünden, authorities warned of renewed flooding in Misox on Friday. The situation deteriorated in the evening, as the cantonal police reported. "Several rivers have left their banks," it was stated. Multiple people were evacuated, according to the Swiss Automobile Club Touring Club Schweiz. The Autobahn was shut in both directions due to landslides in the lower part of the valley, as reported by the Swiss Federal Environmental Office. Other parts of Switzerland are also experiencing flooding. The Swiss Federal Environmental Office issued a top warning for parts of Lake Constance.
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The extreme weather conditions, including heavy thunderstorms and snowmelt, have led to severe flooding in Switzerland, affecting numerous regions and causing evacuations. International assistance has been requested to help manage the crisis, as the renowned ski resort Zermatt remains isolated due to flood risks.
