Two missing after violent storm, large mudslide hit Swiss Alps
Two people, a 37-year-old man and a 6-year-old girl, are missing after a fast-moving mudslide hit Switzerland's Valais canton on Sunday night, August 11, 2019.
The event took place late Sunday after a violent hit the region, causing the Losentze river to overflow and sweep away two vehicles.
Authorities closed the roads near the town of Chamoson and a funicular linking Sierre with the resort of Crans-Montana due to hazards, the Reuters reports.
More than 70 rescuers, including a helicopter crew, searched for 2 people, trapped in one of the vehicles, through the night with no success. Valais police said Monday they have little hope of finding them.
It occurred almost a year after a huge mudslide engulfed part of the same city.
A rockfall that took place at 19:30 LT on August 12 between the villages of Randa and Herbriggen, cut off road and railway access to the mountain resort of Zermatt, 45 km (28 miles) SE of Chamoson. Authorities said the road access to the resort was expected to reopen at 11:00 LT, August 13.
SwissInfo said this region is regularly affected by natural forces. "Last month, parts of the resort were flooded after a stream burst its bank due to a pocket of meltwater from the glacier above. The biggest crisis occurred last winter when tourists were stranded for four days after transport links were severed following avalanches, heavy snow and rockfalls."
Featured image credit: Guy Monnet
If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.
Your support makes a difference
Dear valued reader,
We hope that our website has been a valuable resource for you.
The reality is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to maintain and grow this website. We rely on the support of readers like you to keep providing high-quality content.
If you have found our website to be helpful, please consider making a contribution to help us continue to bring you the information you need. Your support means the world to us and helps us to keep doing what we love.
Support us by choosing your support level – Silver, Gold or Platinum. Other support options include Patreon pledges and sending us a one-off payment using PayPal.
Thank you for your consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Teo Blašković
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:
We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.