Storm Canton has to blast the road into the Saas Valley

SDA

6.9.2024 - 17:34

Thursday's debris flow buried the cantonal road between Saas-Almagell and Stalden in Valais.
Thursday's debris flow buried the cantonal road between Saas-Almagell and Stalden in Valais.
Picture: Keystone

Before the cantonal road into the Saas Valley can be cleared and made safe, large boulders have to be blasted away after Thursday's debris flow. An observation flight on Friday revealed that boulders are still endangering the road and thus the clearing work.

Keystone-SDA

The road between Stalden and Saas-Almagell is therefore likely to remain closed until the beginning of next week, as the canton of Valais announced on Friday evening. The blasting work was underway on Friday. A specialist company was involved. According to the information, some of the boulders measured up to 100 cubic meters. This volume is roughly equivalent to that of an articulated bus.

Clearance of the roadway can only begin once the blasting has been completed. The next item on the agenda is the repair of the torrent crossing, according to the information provided. When the road will be passable again depends on the damage to its infrastructure.