Search persists for three individuals reported missing following the floods in Switzerland
Emergency crews utilized dogs, drones, and helicopters to locate missing individuals after severe flooding in various regions. The army was also involved as the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection, and Sport (VBS) confirmed on their online service X. As per the Canton Police, the missing individuals were likely at home during the flood and were swept away by the rushing water.
The rescue teams remained hopeful of discovering the missing alive, although a spokesperson for the Canton Police informed Keystone-SDA that given the size of the debris flows, the odds of survival were slim. Media reports hinted at a missing couple and elderly woman among those unaccounted for. A missing woman was found and transported to a hospital in Lugano.
In the Misox Valley, the excess rainfall of the previous days caused a landslide. Rivers burst their banks, and streets were flooded. Multiple streams carried such forceful water that they submerged villages with debris, gravel, and other debris. In Sorte, a district of the commune of Lostallo, three houses and three vehicles were swept away by the water. A police car involved in the rescue mission was also carried away. The policemen in the submerged car managed to swim to safety, according to the police.
Residents of Misox and nearby Calanca Valley were temporarily evacuated. A temporary shelter was established in Lostallo. Several towns in the area lost power, and water supply was interrupted in several villages.
Swiss President Viola Amherd expressed her disbelief over the extent of the weather-related damage. In her online service X, she stated, "My thoughts are with the affected population," and thanked the rescue teams for their relentless efforts.
The populace was advised to minimize unnecessary car trips to avoid hindering the cleanup process. Traffic was partially disrupted, and the road between Mesocco and Lostallo would remain closed all Sunday, as reported by the Canton Police.
In the Canton of Valais, authorities issued another alert for the Rhone and its tributaries on Sunday morning, according to Keystone-SDA. The Rhone, a river that empties into the Rhone, had overflowed its banks, and a section of the riverbanks was flooded by a mixture of muddy water.
Since Friday afternoon, the popular holiday resort of Zermatt had been isolated from the outside world. Trains resumed operations on the Täsch-Zermatt line as scheduled on Saturday evening, as reported by Keystone-SDA. Over the past few days, heavy storms ravaged the southern and eastern regions of Switzerland. Combined with the abundant snowmelt this year, the excessive rainfall led to the flooding.
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- The rescue operation in Grisons, Switzerland, involved the use of dogs, as they are highly skilled in searching for missing persons in such distressing scenarios.
- Electricity outages were reported in several towns in the area following the floods, making it challenging for rescue workers to operate their equipment effectively.
- Despite the severe storm, the police could not neglect their daily duties in Grisons and ensured that a rescue vehicle was deployed to assist in the efforts.
- The woman, who was found safe in Lugano, had been reported missing due to the floods and had been added to the list of missing persons.
- The swift actions of the rescue team, which included using a helicopter to survey the flooded areas, increased the chances of locating the remaining missing persons.
- In the southeast of Switzerland, the storm had caused substantial damage to the region, further complicating the rescue efforts and search for the three individuals reported missing.
- A drone was deployed to take aerial footage of the devastation caused by the floods and help identify potential locations where the missing individuals might have sought shelter.
- After a day of continuous search and rescue operations in the Grisons region, the police and other rescue workers vowed to continue their efforts until all missing persons were safely located.
- The Sunday news in Switzerland was dominated by stories of the flood tragedy, with reports of missing persons, damage caused by the storm, and the remarkable efforts of the rescue workers to help those affected.
