Storm Mühlebach causes major destruction in the village of Brienz
An avalanche of debris covers part of the village of Brienz BE.
Image: Keystone
Buildings and infrastructure were severely damaged by a heavy thunderstorm in Brienz BE.
Image: Keystone
Heavy thunderstorms triggered a debris flow in Brienz BE.
Image: Keystone
An avalanche of debris covers part of the village of Brienz BE.
Image: Keystone
Buildings and infrastructure were severely damaged by a heavy thunderstorm in Brienz BE.
Image: Keystone
Heavy thunderstorms triggered a debris flow in Brienz BE.
Image: Keystone
A storm on Monday evening in the Bernese Oberland led to closed roads and highways and damaged buildings in various places. Brienz was particularly affected, with piles of rubble and debris several meters high in one part of the village.
13.08.2024, 11:08
13.08.2024, 13:18
SDA
On Monday evening, the Mühlebach stream from the catchment area of the Brienzer Rothorn filled a large debris collector built a few years ago above the village. The masses of water, debris and mud then made their way through the village of Aenderdorf.
70 people were evacuated. Most of them were able to find shelter with family and friends. 20 people spent the night in a large privately run shelter. Over the course of Tuesday, the first of those affected were able to return to their homes to retrieve personal belongings, accompanied by civilian guards.
The mood in Brienz was depressed on Tuesday morning. In the silence, the numerous construction machines roared all the louder as they dredged the channels clear.
Fortunately, the storm with its destructive force did not claim any lives in Brienz, unlike in 2005 when the Glyssibach claimed two lives. On Monday evening, two people suffered minor to moderate injuries, as reported by Peter Zumbrunn, president of the municipal council. Fortunately, no one is missing either.
Railroad interruption
The main road and the railroad line between Interlaken and Brienz are interrupted and are likely to remain so for some time to come. Brienz can be reached via the highway on the other side of the lake. Rail replacement buses are running.
The regional operations center of the cantonal police received around 130 reports between around 5.30 p.m. and 10 p.m., as was reported on request. Most of them concerned the greater Brienz area.
However, thunderstorms and hail also fell elsewhere in the Bernese Oberland and in the canton of Bern. In Leissigen on Lake Thun, for example, piles of hail could still be seen on Tuesday morning. Roads were also flooded there.
In the Grindelwald valley, debris flows fell and buried infrastructure. Roads and railroads were closed on Tuesday morning. Jungfrau Railways will provide further information in the afternoon.
