4 dead following landslide and flooding in southern Switzerland

Torrential rain, flooding and a landslide have left four people dead in Switzerland. The southern cantons of Valais and Ticino have been the worst affected.

At least four dead in Swiss floods

Four people are confirmed to have died in storms across Switzerland during the weekend and Swiss police have warned that more are missing.

Torrential rain kickstarted a landslide in Fontana, Ticino. Downstream in Cevio, a bridge collapsed, blocking off multiple other valleys to traffic and further inhibiting rescue operations by emergency services.

Swiss civil security services said that “several hundred” people had been evacuated in Valais after the Rhone River overflowed at several points, but reassured on Sunday that the situation was “under control” but remained “fragile”. 

President of Switzerland Viola Amherd and Councillor Christian Vitta will travel to Ticino and Valais today to get a better idea of how the cantons have been affected.

What should locals do to keep safe?

While the situation remains fragile, police in Ticino have advised locals to take care, stay at home, listen to instructions and follow announcements on the radio. At home, you should avoid going into basements or underground car parks.

If you leave the house, you should avoid going close to waterways which are flooded and never ride your bike or drive through flooded streets.

Thumb image credit: Mor65_Mauro Piccardi / Shutterstock.com