Floods Storm front causes flooding and landslides in Valais
There were landslides and flooding in Valais on Friday due to heavy thunderstorms. In particular, the authorities warned of the risk of flooding along the Rhone and its tributaries. In Zermatt, the Vispa has already burst its banks.
21.06.2024, 10:03
21.06.2024, 11:56
SDA
According to the cantonal authorities and the Alertswiss information platform, the discharge of the Rhone is expected to peak on Friday in the late afternoon or evening. According to the warning, flooding and debris flows may also occur in the tributaries of the Rhone. The canton of Vaud also warned of the risk of flooding in the Chablais region.
The authorities recommend not approaching watercourses, not parking on bridges, restricting vehicle travel and refraining from filming or photographing the storm events.
In Zermatt, there was flooding in the middle of the village on Friday morning. A video published on the "Walliser Bote" news portal shows the Vispa bursting its banks. According to the video, the local fire department was deployed. Using large machines, emergency services attempted to remove debris from the water to prevent a blockage under the bridge.
Landslides bury roads
According to local media reports, numerous transport links in the canton were closed. The road between Täsch and Zermatt was buried by a landslide. The road between Vissoie and the village of Mayoux in the Val d'Anniviers and the link between Fionnay and Manvoisin in the upper Val de Bagnes were also closed due to landslides.
The reason for the flooding is a rain and thunderstorm front that has been moving across the Valais since Thursday. Added to this are the melting snow and water-saturated ground.
According to the MeteoSwiss hazard map, the risk of flooding was considerable along the Rhone and in the upper part of Lake Constance on Friday afternoon. There was a moderate risk of flooding in the rest of the Alpine and pre-Alpine region and a low risk of flooding in the Central Plateau and Jura.
