Severe weather Valais maintains alert level due to flooding
The water levels of the Rhone and the lateral watercourses have fallen. However, "increased vigilance is necessary", announced the Valais cantonal management body (KFO) early on Saturday evening. The alert level and the special situation are being maintained.
22.06.2024, 17:44
SDA
The situation on the Rhone has calmed down, as Antoine Jacquod, deputy head of the Civil Security Service, told the Keystone-SDA news agency on request. "What worries us very, very much are the side valleys, especially the Matter, Anniviers and Hérens valleys, where the ground is very destabilized."
In these areas, there have been several floods and debris flows along the side rivers, which have only receded "very slowly". The KFO fears landslides there. What happens next depends on the strength of the current thunderstorms, Jacquod added.
59 people evacuated
The bridge between Chippis and Sierre has been closed. "Our engineers are on site to assess the situation," said Jacquod. As soon as the outflow calms down, it will be a matter of removing the tree trunks that have washed ashore in order to avoid further dangers, particularly on Lake Geneva.
Most of the 230 people who had to be evacuated on Friday were able to return home. According to Jacquod, 59 people across the canton have had to leave their homes. He based this figure on information from the affected municipalities.
Call for caution
The KFO is calling on the population to limit travel, stay away from watercourses, avoid parking on bridges and driving on the Rhone and the mouth of Lake Geneva and, above all, to "be patient".
It also recommended that people refrain from filming or photographing the events and strictly follow the instructions of the authorities. More than 300 people, including 157 firefighters and around 40 civil defense personnel, were deployed.
