Switzerland is on high alert following heavy rainfall that has caused significant damage, including a landslide that buried a village in the southeast of the country. The Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology has warned that the risk of flooding remains, and further landslides are possible due to the already saturated soil. Local media has shown videos and photographs of overflowing rivers, a collapsed motorway, and debris covering parts of the Misox valley in the canton of Graubünden. The rainfall also temporarily closed routes to the popular tourist destination of Zermatt, but rail services have now resumed. Tragically, one person has been confirmed dead, with two others reported missing due to a rockslide. Emergency authorities are continuing rescue efforts.
President Viola Amherd expressed her shock at the extent of the damage in a recent post on X.
The Swiss Army has been mobilized to locate missing individuals and assist in evacuations.
Tune in to Zero to hear how climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events.
This flooding incident follows weeks of heavy rainfall in Germany, which resulted in widespread flooding and disrupted transportation along the Rhine and Danube shipping routes.
(Update: One body has been discovered, as mentioned in the fourth paragraph.)