Lots of rain and continued risk of severe weather in Switzerland

Swiss Maggia Valley region - Lots of rain and continued risk of severe weather in Switzerland

In the Swiss cantons of Graubünden and Tessin, it has rained heavily for the third consecutive weekend. For Tessin and Graubünden, the danger level is still three out of five as of this evening. Authorities are urging people to stay away from rivers and steep slopes and not to go into basements that could flood quickly.

One week ago, in the Maggiatal region of Tessin, six people were killed by landslides and flooding caused by dammed mountain rivers. Three of the victims were women from Baden-Württemberg. Two weeks ago, in Graubünden's Misox Valley, four people were swept away by water masses. Only one could be rescued alive.

So far, the authorities have reported no further disasters.

In the South Tessin region, at the border with Italy, 110 millimeters of rain fell in 24 hours, 48 millimeters of which fell within two hours, according to the MeteoSwiss weather service. The rain is supposed to ease tonight. Graubünden also experienced heavy rain.

People with helicopters safely evacuated

In the Maggiatal region, rescue teams evacuated nine people with helicopters out of caution before the new rain. Others went to stay with relatives and friends before the access roads to the remote Bavonatal were closed. According to the authorities, some people refused to leave their homes, despite being in danger zones for landslides.

The recently reopened one-lane A13 North-South Autobahn in Graubünden held up against the rain. Water masses had buried and carried away a part of the roadway two weeks ago. The Federal Roads Agency has quickly rebuilt and reopened the important connection for the holiday traffic.

Damage in the millions - Bridge collapsed

In Tessin, a bridge between Visletto and Cevio was partially destroyed by last weekend's storm. Several villages in the Maggiatal valley can no longer be reached by car as a result.

1. Despite the heavy rain in Switzerland's Ticino and Grisons cantons for three consecutive weekends, causing a risk of severe weather and flooding, authorities are urging people to avoid rivers, steep slopes, and basements that could flood quickly.
2. Last weekend, a storm in Tessin's Maggiatal region resulted in landslides and flooding, leading to the deaths of six people, including three women from Baden-Württemberg.
3. In Graubünden's Misox Valley, two weeks ago, four people were swept away by water masses, leaving only one survivor.
4. Graubünden and Tessin continue to face a danger level of three out of five, with MeteoSwiss reporting 110 millimeters of rain in the South Tessin region in 24 hours, causing concern for further flooding.
5. As a precaution, rescue teams in the Maggiatal region evacuated nine people with helicopters due to the risk of new rain, while some people refused to leave their homes despite being in danger zones for landslides.
6. The damage caused by these weather events is estimated to be in the millions, with a bridge between Visletto and Civio in Tessin partially collapsing as a result of last weekend's storm, cutting off access to several villages in the Maggiatal valley.

Read also:

• Severe flooding continues in southern Germany.
• Floods continue to pose a major threat in southern Germany.
• Rising floods in the southern regions
• Floods: water levels remain critical in many places