Landslide buries several people underneath it
Since Saturday afternoon, wide parts of Switzerland have reported strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfalls. In the Canton of Tessin, the earth gave way in the night, and several people are reported missing. Blocked roads and landways complicate rescue and search efforts.
In the Canton of Tessin, several people are missing after a landslide. According to a statement from the cantonal police, the earth gave way in the Fontana area in the northwest of Tessin, and "persons were reported missing." The rescue operation in the Maggiatal is difficult due to the poor weather conditions. Several side valleys are not accessible on foot.
Since Saturday afternoon, wide parts of Switzerland have reported strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfalls. According to Meteonews weather service, around 200 liters of rain per square meter fell in the upper Maggiatal over the weekend. The residents of Prato-Sornico and the Maggiatal in Tessin were urged to leave their houses near the Maggia river early on Sunday morning. Camping sites along the river were also evacuated, according to the cantonal police. The roads were blocked due to flooding, and a bridge was carried away by the water masses.
A few valleys near the Maggiatal are no longer accessible, and they are also cut off from the power supply. According to Alertswiss, parts of Tessin are also without drinking water.
Second weekend of bad weather
In the Canton of Valais in southwestern Switzerland, the Rhone and its tributaries overflowed due to heavy rainfall and snowmelt. According to local authorities, several hundred people had to leave their houses. The inhabitants of Raron and Gampel, as well as those in Chippis and Sierre, were affected. The Rhone tributary Vispa overflowed again in Zermatt, Valais.
Due to the rainfall, numerous roads were closed in Valais, according to the authorities, including the Simplonpass, an essential route for international traffic. Train traffic was also affected. Already during the previous weekend, unusually heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in the southeastern part of the country caused significant damage. At least one person lost their life.
The International Red Cross has expressed its concerns about the missing persons in the landslide in Tessin, Switzerland. Due to the continuous heavy rain and storms, Switzerland has been experiencing its second weekend of misfortunes.
