Storm danger: residents brought out of the valley by helicopter

Evacuation - Storm danger: residents brought out of the valley by helicopter

One week after the devastating landslides in the Maggiatal region of the Swiss Canton Tessin, nine people were safely evacuated by helicopter before the arrival of new weather. Six people had died there over the past weekend, among them three visitors from Baden-Württemberg. Three people are still missing.

Warning for Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain

The authorities have issued a warning for significant rain and thunderstorm danger and urged people to avoid watersides and not to enter basements. Areas particularly affected are southern Tessin, parts of Graubünden, the western part of the Canton Wallis with the Rhone Valley, and the Canton of Vaud at Lake Geneva. The Montreux Jazz Festival is currently taking place there - partly under clear skies.

The spokesperson for the crisis staff could not say how many people from the Bavonatal in Tessin are still being evacuated by helicopter. Experts have marked danger zones. Residents may be able to stay with relatives outside the zones, the spokesperson said. Nine people live in the remote part of the valley in the village of San Carlo. They are reportedly safe, according to the spokesperson.

A week ago, a storm in Fontana triggered a landslide that among other things took the lives of three Germans. Heavy rain had caused the Maggia River and its tributaries to swell significantly.

Bridge Collapsed

Part of an autobridge between Visletto and Cevio collapsed. Several villages in the Maggiatal valley can no longer be reached by car. A provisional new bridge is being built. Until it is completed, a bridge for bicycles and pedestrians that remains intact should be used. It will be reinforced so that at least emergency vehicles of the rescue services can drive over it.

1. Due to the impending risk of severe weather in Switzerland, consider postponing your weekend trip to Locarno if you're planning to visit from Baden-Württemberg.
2. The authorities in Ticino are closely monitoring the weather situation, particularly in the Maggiatal region, where landslides occurred last week.
3. Should the weather in Switzerland deteriorate, evacuation plans for the residents of San Carlo in the Bavonatal may be activated.
4. The helicopter evacuations in the Maggiatal region have been ongoing since last week, prompted by the threat of another storm and landslides similar to those that occurred in the village of Maggia.
5. Following the warning for significant rain and thunderstorm danger, authorities have advised against visiting areas along the Rhone Valley, especially in Graubünden and Vaud, due to the potential for further landslides.
6. In response to the collapse of the autobridge in Visletto, special consideration is being given to transport in the Maggiatal valley, with reinforcements made to the existing pedestrian bridge to accommodate emergency vehicles during storms.

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