Home Back

Horror moment devastating floods tear through homes & spark landslides in Switzerland as 3 missing after torrential rain

gistnews.com.ng 4 days ago

THIS is the horror moment devastating floods tore through homes and sparked a horror landslide in Switzerland.

Rescuers are now on a desperate search for three missing people after violent thunderstorms and torrential rain hit the southeast of the country.

15

Torrential rain poured down in Zermatt, Switzerland
Torrential rain poured down in Zermatt, Switzerland

15

The popular ski resort was taken by furious floods
The popular ski resort was taken by furious floods

15

A car was seen hanging by a thread before falling into the water
A car was seen hanging by a thread before falling into the water

15

An excavator was seen on a bridge as violent floods run below it
An excavator was seen on a bridge as violent floods run below it

15

Passengers aboard a train could see the horror floods just feet away from their seats
Passengers aboard a train could see the horror floods just feet away from their seats

Shocking footage shows what once used to be picturesque Swiss villages now completely ravaged by destruction as houses and cars were swept away by the water.

Dramatic clips also showed the otherwise small river that flows through Zermatt turning into a muddy torrent, partially submerging streets in the popular ski resort.

Rivers overflowed their banks, covering fields, highways, and settlements with debris, timber, and earth.

In the village of Sorte, flooding washed away three houses and three cars, according to Grisons police.

The car in which two police officers were trapped was completely submerged but they managed to escape.

Emergency services in the canton of Valais were on high alert over the levels of the River Rhone, which reached its peak on Saturday.

Authorities evacuated 230 residents on Saturday, with the municipality of Chippis particularly affected, as it is situated on the left bank of the Rhone.

One woman was pulled out alive after being buried by the landslide in the Alpine valley of Misox in Graubünden.

Majorca hit by ‘meteo-tsunami’ mega wave as shock vid shows ocean swallow up shore roads in tourist resort

15

Bridges and roads also gave way to the destruction
Bridges and roads also gave way to the destruction

15

Aerial view of the damage caused by the violent thunderstorms and floods in the southeast of the country
Aerial view of the damage caused by the violent thunderstorms and floods in the southeast of the country

15

Cars were carried away by the strong waters
Cars were carried away by the strong waters

15

Rescuers with specially trained dogs have been on a frantic search for missing people
Rescuers with specially trained dogs have been on a frantic search for missing people

15

Homes were completely swept away and destroyed
Homes were completely swept away and destroyed

But the three others are still nowhere to be found.

Rescuers searched all through Saturday with helicopters and drones after the rockslide hit several homes in the municipality of Lostallo.

Excavators and search dogs were also used in the task force.

William Kloter from the Swiss police, who is heading the rescue operations, told local media that he was hoping to find the three missing people alive.

Authorities have warned residents to avoid lower parts of their houses, including cellars, stay away from swelling rivers and refrain from parking on bridges.

People were also advised against filming or photographing the floods for safety reasons.

Swiss President Viola Amherd said she was shocked by the scale of the damage.

“My thoughts are with those affected. I thank the emergency personnel for their tireless efforts in this difficult situation,” Amherd said on X.

MeteoSchweiz, the government’s office for weather and climate, said almost five inches of rain fell in Mesolcina valley, with a shocking 2.48 inches coming down in just one hour.

A spokesperson for the agency said: “It was not the level of rain, but the concentration of rain in such a short period of time which caused the problems.

“This concentration of rain happens only once every 30 years.”

The Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway announced on Saturday evening that it would resume operations between Zermatt and the village of Täsch, where buses would be available for onward transportation.

Zermatt in the southern canton of Valais, near the iconic Matterhorn mountain, had been cut off from the outside world on Friday and Saturday after heavy rains and melting snow caused the Mattervispa River to overflow.

15

Dozens of people were asked to leave their homes
Dozens of people were asked to leave their homes

15

An expert said this concentration of rain happens only once every 30 years
An expert said this concentration of rain happens only once every 30 years

15

The A13 highway between Lostallo and Soazza was destroyed by the force of the Moesa river
The A13 highway between Lostallo and Soazza was destroyed by the force of the Moesa river

15

Authorities have warned residents to avoid lower parts of their houses
Authorities have warned residents to avoid lower parts of their houses

Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines
#naija gist news
#latest naija gist
#naija news live

People are also reading