Storm ticker Missing woman recovered dead at Lenk in the Bernese Oberland +++ Canton of Basel-Landschaft issues warning

Thunderstorms and heavy rain have flooded various parts of Switzerland over the past few days. Meanwhile, the castle hill in Mesocco is threatening to collapse into the valley. The developments in the ticker.

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16.45 hrs

Missing woman found dead on the Lenk in the Bernese Oberland

A woman who has been missing for a week on the Lenk in the Bernese Oberland has been found dead. The body was discovered on Saturday as part of a search operation in the Iffigbach stream and recovered from the water.

The woman was out for a walk with a companion on June 22, a week ago Saturday, when she fell into the Iffigbach for unknown reasons. The search for her was launched immediately.

The dead woman has not yet been formally identified, as the Bernese cantonal police and the responsible public prosecutor's office announced on Saturday. However, there are concrete indications of her identity.

3.26 p.m.

Canton of Basel-Landschaft publishes warning

Most recently, the canton of Basel-Landschaft published a warning on Alertswiss. The canton calls on people not to go into the forest and also to avoid open areas, trees and towers. To allow rainwater to run off, drains should be kept clear and movable objects such as garden furniture should be secured because of the gusts.

1.18 p.m.

Canton of Vaud bans all outdoor events

The canton of Vaud has banned all outdoor events on Saturday afternoon and evening due to the risk of severe weather. It also strongly advises against boat trips on the upper Lake Geneva.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, the Vaud cantonal police explained that meteorologists are predicting an exceptional weather situation on Saturday afternoon. There could be strong winds with speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour, as well as lightning, hail and heavy rain.

According to the communiqué, the decision was made after a meeting of the cantonal command staff, which was also attended by meteorologists. The events are banned until 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.

The canton of Vaud also advises people to avoid driving if possible and not to go into forests or parks. On Saturday morning, the city of Nyon VD had already announced that it was canceling a European Football Championship public viewing event on Saturday evening.

12.29 pm

Nyon VD cancels public viewing and closes outdoor pool

The city of Nyon VD has canceled the open-air broadcast of the European Championship football match between Switzerland and Italy on Saturday evening due to a storm warning. It is also closing a swimming pool at 3 p.m. in the afternoon due to the warning.

In a statement on Saturday, the authorities of the city on Lake Geneva justified the move with the forecast of hailstorms, strong winds and heavy rain showers. The authorities are calling on the local population to stay at home on Saturday afternoon.

The city of Geneva had previously announced that it was withdrawing its permit for all open-air events on Saturday afternoon due to the storm warning.

12.23 p.m.

Confederation raises danger level for Ticino

Ticino is now also at danger level 4 out of 5 for thunderstorms. Possible according to the danger message: Lightning strikes, squalls, the toppling of trees, heavy rain, landslides on steep slopes, the sudden appearance of tidal waves in streams, flooding and hail damage.

Anyone spending time outdoors should "consider protection options and alternative routes". Further information can be found at MeteoSwiss.

Outdoor objects should also be secured. If the storm has reached your home, it is advisable to disconnect computers, televisions and other electrical devices from the power grid to protect them from overvoltage in the event of a lightning strike.

11.47 a.m.

Canton Valais warns of floods and debris flows

The canton of Valais is warning of flooding and debris flows in tributaries of the Rhone for Saturday afternoon and Sunday night. The water levels in the Rhone are also expected to rise further.

Numerous thunderstorms will cross the Valais on Saturday afternoon and into Sunday night. According to the weather forecasts, large, very dynamic thunderstorm cells with "locally violent events" may develop, as the cantonal management body (KFO) announced on Saturday morning.

The precipitation could be very heavy locally, especially in the side valleys of the left bank of the Rhone. The Entremont, the Val d'Hérens, the Goms, the Binntal and the Simplon region are likely to be particularly affected. However, according to the KFO, other regions could also be affected.

The melting snow and soaked soils will also lead to a significant rise in the tributaries and the Rhone, which could lead to debris flows and flooding. There is a considerable risk of flooding from the mouth of the Saltina to Lake Geneva.

The KFO therefore warns against staying near watercourses. Drivers should not park on bridges and should refrain from filming and photographing severe weather events in order to avoid putting themselves in danger. The population should generally "restrict their freedom of movement".

10.35 a.m.

Geneva cancels public viewing and other events

The canton of Geneva is canceling all permits for events planned on public grounds from 2 p.m. on Saturday. The reason for this is a weather warning, according to which a severe storm is expected in the region from late afternoon.

According to a statement from the Geneva cantonal administration on Saturday, there is a high probability of stormy gusts with speeds of up to 100 km/h in Geneva in the afternoon. There may also be large hailstones, lightning strikes and heavy rain showers.

The cancellation particularly affects the fan zone in the Plainpalais area, where 15,000 spectators were expected at 6 p.m. for the start of the European Football Championship match between Switzerland and Italy.

Major events in dangerHail, squalls, heavy rain - Confederation declares highest thunderstorm warning level for Saturday

7.44 a.m.

MeteoSwiss: First thunderstorms possible in the early afternoon

The latest forecast models show the first thunderstorms as early as Saturday afternoon. So far, the weather services have not expected them until the early evening. The first heavy rain showers could reach western Switzerland as early as midday and central and eastern Switzerland by 14.

However, the federal meteorological service qualifies the forecast by referring to other models, which see the heavy rain and thunderstorms moving across Switzerland later, some even in the late evening. Where and when exactly a thunderstorm will form remains difficult to predict. Anyone enjoying the hot Saturday outdoors is advised to keep an eye on the sky and stay close to a safe shelter.

10 p.m.

We remind you of the risk of thunderstorms and end the ticker on June 28

Thank you for your interest, take care of yourselves and your loved ones.

7.46 pm

Heavy hailstorms in the canton of Bern

Heavy thunderstorms are moving across the canton of Bern. Hailstones as big as golf balls fell from the sky. A "Blick" reader reporter reports: "The largest hailstone was the size of a small tennis ball, others were as big as a golf ball!" According to the reader reporter, Schwadernau, Biel and Studen were affected.

18.57 hrs

Lightning strikes the Solothurn suburban train

A lightning strike temporarily paralyzed the Solothurn-Niederbipp railroad on Friday afternoon and caused delays. After 45 minutes, the train was back in operation as usual, reports "20 Minuten".

"The weather was quite nice, then it suddenly changed from zero to one hundred," a reader told the news portal. She saw the lightning and it was very bright. The train finally came to a standstill.

18.46 hrs

Confederation warns of heavy thunderstorms on Saturday - especially in French-speaking Switzerland

MeteoSwiss warns of an "explosive weather cocktail" late Saturday afternoon, especially in French-speaking Switzerland. There is a threat of heavy thunderstorms bringing storms and hail.

On its blog, the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss) speaks of an "explosive football match", referring to the European Championship round of 16 match between Switzerland and Italy, which starts on Saturday at 6 pm in Berlin and will be broadcast in numerous public viewing areas throughout Switzerland. So it could get pretty wet at some of them.

The arrival of warm and very humid air in Switzerland with temperatures of up to 21 degrees at around 1500 meters above sea level, coupled with the diurnal warming in the course of the afternoon, will lead to strong instability, the weather forecasters write.

"From the late afternoon, dynamic thunderstorms from the southwest will cross western Switzerland and the Jura in a northeasterly direction. In contrast to recent thunderstorm events, these thunderstorms will be organized and on the move and may produce high rainfall intensities, strong gusts of wind on the ground and hailstones in the centimetre range," warns the institute.

5.42 pm

A debris avalanche threatens to slide above Brienz GR

Above the Grisons mountain village of Brienz, a debris avalanche is threatening to slide down as a so-called debris flow. Although parts of this avalanche could reach the meadowland on the edge of the village, the village itself is not under threat, wrote the municipality of Albula on X.

Ergiebige Niederschläge haben starke #Beschleunigung im oberen Schuttkegel ausgelöst. Spontane #Rutschungen bis in die Wiesen hinter dem Dorf sind möglich. 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘇/𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘇𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗵𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗵𝗿. #Sicherheitszone einhalten! #BrienzerRutsch pic.twitter.com/NO9F1m4ivZ

— Gemeinde Albula/Alvra (@AlbulaAlvra) June 28, 2024

The heavy rainfall of the last few days has caused the landslide to accelerate. The masses of debris are currently moving downhill at a rate of 10 centimetres per day, as Christian Gartmann, communications officer for the municipality of Albula, told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Friday.

The material at risk of falling is material that has already fallen from the debris flow in June 2023. It is located in the debris cone of the so-called island, from which 1.2 million cubic meters of rock came loose last year.

Gartmann went on to say that if this cone of debris were to slide down, it would be like a wet snow avalanche. However, experts had classified the impending flow of debris as reaching the meadowland above the village at most. A no-go zone is still in place there. This does not need to be extended.

3.15 p.m.

Considerable danger in places

On Friday afternoon, thunderstorms will continue to develop in some places in Switzerland. The Central Plateau and the Basel region are currently particularly affected. Here, the federal government is warning of considerable danger (level 3). The thunderstorms are currently moving further east.

A particularly high level of lightning activity is currently being measured in the core of the thunderstorm cell. According to the federal government, special care must be taken here.

Friday, June 28, 2024, 4.50 am

Warning of flooding in the Sitter

The Sitter in the canton of Thurgau is flooding. On Friday morning, the canton initially announced via the Alertswiss app that people should avoid the affected area. The warning has since been lifted.

9 p.m.

We end the ticker on Thursday, June 27, 2024

6.16 pm

Rescue workers find female body on the River Moesa

Rescue workers found a dead woman in the River Moesa near Grono GR on Thursday. It was initially unclear in the evening whether this was one of the missing persons in the southern Graubünden valley of Misox.

Emergency services discovered the body at 10.25 a.m., as the Graubünden cantonal police reported in the evening. The discovery was the result of a joint search operation by various emergency services to find the two people who are still missing after the storms in Misox GR last Friday.

The location is not far from where the body of the former Lostallo councillor was found on Sunday. His partner was rescued alive on Saturday morning after spending the night in the rubble.

Thursday, June 27, 2024, 2.15 p.m.

Landslide threatens in Mesocco

In Mesocco, cracks appear in the ground between the castle hill and the highway junction. A landslide is therefore imminent. The hill on which Mesocco Castle stands could slide into the River Moesa. The municipality has already set up an exclusion zone around the affected area. The canton of Graubünden warns people not to stay near the Moesa.

Dopo l'alluvione: a Mesocco cede la collina sotto il Castellohttps://t.co/HtZzLljgXf

— RSI Info (@RSIInfo_) June 27, 2024

23:36

We end the ticker on Wednesday, June 26, 2024

7.17 pm

Weather situation eases - level 4 warnings lifted

The severe weather situation in Switzerland has calmed down somewhat. The federal government has lifted all severe weather warnings at danger level 4. There is still considerable danger (level 3) in the Geneva area.

16.18 hrs

Confederation warns of "great danger" from thunderstorms in the Thun-Belp area

The federal government is warning of "great danger" from thunderstorms in the Thun-Belp area. MeteoSwiss has accordingly issued a warning level 4 (out of 5). The danger is mainly due to falling trees and branches or landslides and flooding.

The federal government recommends avoiding bodies of water and places exposed to lightning strikes such as trees, masts, mountain peaks and open areas.

Meanwhile, warning level 4 has been downgraded again for parts of the canton of Neuchâtel. However, the population is still urged to exercise caution.

3.13 p.m.

Helicopter search for missing persons in Misox

The search for the two people missing in Misox since the storm on Friday evening continued from the air on Wednesday. Rescuers are using helicopters to search for the missing persons along the Moesa river.

The search in the cone of rubble that destroyed part of the village was called off on Wednesday, a spokesman for the regional command staff told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

So far, members of the fire department and civil defense have been searching for the two missing villagers with the help of excavators - initially also with dogs. On Friday evening, they were presumably in one of three houses that were swept away by an avalanche of debris.

It remains uncertain when the clean-up work in the village of Sorte can begin. First, the slope above the settlement must be secured. It is also unclear when the 15 evacuated villagers will be allowed to return to their homes. They could have been temporarily accommodated in the region, the spokesman added.

On Friday evening, a violent storm in the southern Graubünden valley led to flooding and landslides. A mudslide hit the village of Sorte in the municipality of Lostallo.

On Saturday morning, a woman was rescued from a cone of debris. On Sunday, rescue workers found a male body in the Moesa River. Two people are still missing.

13.23 hrs

Confederation raises warning level

In parts of the canton of Neuchâtel, the federal government has issued the second-highest thunderstorm warning level. Level 4 now applies, which means "great danger". The Val de Travers, Val de Ruz and Colombier are affected.

In these regions, according to the federal government, there is a risk of large branches breaking off, trees toppling over. Lightning strikes and/or hail damage, landslides on steep slopes or the sudden occurrence of tidal waves in streams and flooding are to be expected.

12.41 p.m.

Pictures show flooding in Schaffhausen

On Wednesday morning, a heavy thunderstorm sweeps over the city of Schaffhausen. The masses of water cause obstructions, including at construction sites. A picture from "BRK" News shows construction workers removing the masses of water with shovels.

Underpasses were also flooded. Some people even had to leave their cars in the water.

Roads turned into raging rivers within minutes. Meadows were also flooded. The situation has since calmed down again.

12.17 p.m.

Geneva Airport back to 70 percent of capacity

Following the flooding in the Skyguide air traffic control building, Geneva Airport was gradually able to resume operations on Wednesday morning.

The exact cause of the flooding in the basement of the air traffic control center in Geneva following the heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday evening is the subject of ongoing investigations, Skyguide announced.

Shortly after 10 pm, air traffic control decided to close the airspace for two hours. Because the cooling system for servers had failed, there was a risk of overheating. According to skyguide, the cooling system was put back into operation in the early hours of the morning.

Meanwhile, capacity in the airspace controlled from Geneva was increased to 70 percent, according to skyguide. Around 30 flights to Geneva and 22 departures were canceled during the night.

11.58 a.m.

Hundreds of flashes of lightning in Schaffhausen

Heavy thunderstorms with lots of rain covered the north of Switzerland on Wednesday morning. Over 200 flashes of lightning fell in the Schaffhausen region.

At the Lohn measuring station in the canton of Schaffhausen, 44 millimetres of rain were measured within one hour, as reported by MeteoSwiss, the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, on Wednesday on X. These were multi-cell thunderstorms.

11.47 a.m.

Storm damage of at least 20 million francs in Vaud

The storm on Tuesday evening caused damage of at least 20 million francs in the canton of Vaud. This corresponds to an initial estimate by the cantonal buildings insurance (ECA).

"However, it is still far too early to take full stock of the event. This can only be drawn up in a few days' time," ECA spokesman Rafael Stuker told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Wednesday.

The ECA expects to receive between 2,000 and 3,000 claims over the next few days. "The majority of the claims come from the Morges region," said Stuker. "But damage has also been reported from the northern Vaud region, for example from Orbe, Champvent and L'Auberson."

In Morges, the river of the same name burst its banks on Wednesday evening after heavy rainfall and flooded numerous cellars and underground garages. No people were injured.

9.45 a.m.

The thunderstorms will pass through here soon

There will be lightning and thunder in many parts of eastern Switzerland in the coming hours. Shortly before 9 a.m., heavy thunderstorms reached the region around Schaffhausen and also caused a power outage there. Meanwhile, a second thunderstorm cell has spread to the Lake Constance region, where there is also heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, some of them severe.

The thunderstorm cells will continue to move westwards until midday, reaching Aargau and Solothurn. It is not possible to forecast exactly how severe the thunderstorms will be. According to Meteoswiss, however, some severe thunderstorms are to be expected.

According to the radar, another small thunderstorm cell is currently forming over Wil SG. It is moving on towards Winterthur and Zurich and should reach the cities around midday. However, according to MeteoSwiss, it is difficult to predict how intense the thunderstorms will be.

Meanwhile, the Bern region will remain calm. Thunderstorms are not expected here until the afternoon. Nevertheless, the federal government has extended the possible warning level 3 and is also warning of possible further severe thunderstorms in French-speaking Switzerland, the foothills of the Alps and Valais until the evening.

9.32 a.m.

Clean-up work underway in Morges

In Morges VD, clean-up work continued on Wednesday morning after the storm the previous evening. Around 20 firefighters were on duty. They were supported by a civil defense team of roughly the same size. Some buildings in the small town on Lake Geneva were badly damaged.

"We carried out a total of 187 operations. Around 25 are on the program today. They mainly involve flooding of cellars and underground garages," fire department commander Thierry Charrey told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

The operations focused on the area around the Morges river, which burst its banks at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and on the upper parts of the municipality. "The situation is under control," added the commander.

"The level of the Morges has risen quickly, but has also fallen again quickly. There is a lot of damage to the surrounding buildings," he said.

9.13 a.m.

Power outage in the Schaffhausen region

There is a partial power outage in the Stein am Rhein / Ramsen area due to thunderstorms. The canton announced this via the Alertswiss app. Power outages are to be expected due to damage to the power grid. Lifts should not be used.

08.22 a.m.

Heavy thunderstorm cell - federal government warns

The first large thunderstorm cell of the day is currently approaching from the east. According to the radar, the cell will cross eastern Switzerland from Lake Constance in the next few minutes and then move on towards Zurich.

The federal government is warning of the thunderstorm cell and has declared warning level 3 in the Amriswil region. According to the Confederation, possible effects include branches breaking off and individual trees toppling over. Lightning strikes and/or hail damage. Landslides on steep slopes or the sudden occurrence of tidal waves in streams and flooding.

07.01 hrs

Next wave of thunderstorms already approaching

A thundery day awaits Switzerland on Wednesday. The first showers and thunderclouds are already forming in the mountains, which will later move on towards the lowlands. According to MeteoSwiss, thunderstorms are possible again from the afternoon, some of them heavy, with brief, locally heavy rainfall. The Jura and the foothills of the Alps are likely to be particularly affected again.

4.15 a.m.

Landline telephone out of order in several Vaud municipalities

Landline telephones failed in several municipalities in the canton of Vaud on Wednesday night. According to Alertswiss, this was due to the storm on Tuesday.

The landline telephone in the municipalities of Pampigny, Sévery, Clarmont, Apples, Yens, Cottens, Reverolle, Villars sous Yens and Bussy Chardonay was no longer operational, as the canton of Vaud announced at 4.00 a.m. via Alertswiss. Emergency services could only be reached via the mobile network.

The services of Secutel-type systems are no longer available. People equipped with a "Secutel" type alarm system are asked to inform those around them.

2.37 a.m.

Skyguide lifts airspace closure in the Geneva area

The air navigation service provider Skyguide reopened the airspace in the Geneva area at midnight on Wednesday. Operating capacity was reduced by half for the time being.

On Tuesday evening, there was flooding in the basement of the Swiss air traffic control center, according to Skyguide. This posed a risk of the air safety systems overheating, which is why Geneva airspace was closed shortly after 10 pm. The cooling system was put back into operation after around two hours. Skyguide was said to be monitoring the situation.

The first departures from Geneva Airport were scheduled for 06:00 on Wednesday morning, according to the website. The airport announced via X that there would be disruptions to air traffic. Passengers should check with the airlines whether their flight is taking place and not come to the airport if it is canceled.

Following a flood at the Skyguide control centre, air traffic is disrupted. Please check with your airline whether your flight is being maintained or cancelled. Skyguide is actively working on a solution. Please do not come to the airport if your flight is cancelled. Thank you.

— Genève Aéroport (@GeneveAeroport) June 25, 2024

Wednesday, June 27, 2024, 2 a.m.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain over western Switzerland

On Tuesday evening, thunderstorms and heavy rain flooded the Basel region and Vaud. The heaviest thunderstorm peaks were very localized and hardly moved, which led to large accumulations of water in some places, MeteoSwiss forecaster Aude Untersee told Keystone-SDA on Tuesday evening.

A possible record amount of water fell in L'Auberson VD with 98 mm of rain during one hour. "That's enormous," said Untersee.

24 o'clock

We end the ticker on Tuesday, June 25, 2024

23:54

Skyguide closes airspace in the Geneva area due to flooding

The air navigation service provider Skyguide temporarily closed the airspace in the Geneva area shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening. The reason is flooding in the air traffic control room.

The flooding caused by a heavy thunderstorm impaired the cooling of the data center, which posed a risk of overheating of the air traffic control systems, as skyguide announced on Tuesday evening. As a result, neither take-offs nor landings can be carried out. Skyguide is working on a solution, according to the statement.

23.44 hrs

Hundreds of reports in the canton of Basel-Landschaft

Several hundred reports of flooded cellars, power outages and other damage were received by the Basel-Landschaft cantonal police in Liestal, a spokeswoman told the Keystone-SDA news agency. In addition to the cantonal capital, Frenkendorf and Füllinsdorf are also affected. A reader reporter also told "Blick" about flooding in Pratteln.

21.32 hrs

Morges VD under water

Morges VD was also badly affected by the storms. The river Morges burst its banks in several places in the town. Terraces were flooded and water entered stores and restaurants. Streets turned into raging rivers within minutes and underpasses were flooded. Pictures on Instagram show this.

An Instagram picture shows people trying to free a car from a flooded underpass.

The city center was flooded, as reported by "20 Minutes". Pictures show people wading through the water.

9.15 p.m.

Flooded cellars in Baselland

"20 Minutes" reports on flooded cellars in Baselland. The Baselland cantonal police confirmed this: "We have received around 30 reports. Most of them are about flooded cellars." The storm caused damage to property, but the police are not aware of any injuries.

Several hundred reports of flooded cellars, power outages and other damage were received by the Basel-Landschaft cantonal police in Liestal alone, a spokeswoman told the Keystone-SDA news agency. In addition to the cantonal capital, Frenkendorf and Füllinsdorf were also affected.

21.03 hrs

Passengers were unable to leave their aircraft at Zurich Airport due to a thunderstorm

As "Blick" writes, one passenger had problems at Zurich Airport. "We've been waiting on the plane for around an hour and can't get off," said the angry man. The passengers had to wait on the plane because no passenger boarding bridge could be extended due to a thunderstorm.

"A handling and refueling stop was active from around 6.30 pm to 7.50 pm. All outdoor work had to be stopped immediately," Zurich Airport said in response to a "Blick" inquiry.

19.57 hrs

Hailstorm floods highway in Liestal

A heavy thunderstorm cell has caused torrential rain in the canton of Baselland. The highway in Liestal was flooded due to the heavy rain. "There were three of us in the car and we were on our way home," says a news scout from "20 Minuten". "Then it suddenly started to rain heavily. It was very slow going, the situation was something new for me," he adds.

7 p.m.

Warning for the Vaud Mittelland and the Val de Travers

Meteo Switzerland is currently warning of severe thunderstorms in the Vaud Plateau and the Val de Travers. Water bodies and places exposed to lightning strikes such as mountain ridges and peaks, trees, masts or towers and open areas (e.g. clearings, football pitches) should be avoided.

18.32 hrs

Heavy thunderstorms over central Switzerland

A band of clouds with thunderstorms is currently stretching across the whole of Central Switzerland. In Ried-Muotatal, the heavy rain temporarily caused the Bettbach waterfall to swell, reports "Blick". The masses of water flowing down led to the cantonal police temporarily blocking the main road.

A thunderstorm with hailstones erupted in the Bernese Oberland. Roads and gardens are partially covered in a white layer. Meteo Switzerland warns of breaking branches and even individual falling trees.

The second-highest danger level currently applies to the Glarus Nord-Mitte region.

3.28 pm

Confederation warns of heavy thunderstorms

Due to the rather unstable air stratification, the warm air mass, the strong sunshine during the day and the rather wet ground in many places, the conditions for strong thunderstorms are in place today. This is what MeteoSwiss, the weather service of the Swiss Confederation, writes on its website. Danger level 3 therefore applies, especially in the foothills of the Alps and in the Jura.

Thunderstorm activity generally seems to be higher in the western half of the country today, which is why all regions are being warned of severe thunderstorms, including the Central Plateau and Valais. "As the high-altitude current is rather weak - as is typical for easterly locations - the thunderstorms will only move slowly," write the federal meteorologists. For this reason, large amounts of precipitation are possible locally.

9.05 a.m.

Race against time?

Clean-up work has begun in Misox after last Friday's storms. Three houses were destroyed in the hamlet of Sorte, and a stable and a garage were also razed to the ground by a torrent of rocks and debris.

Now a race against time begins. Four rainwater catchment basins on the Moesa now have to be emptied "as quickly as possible" using trucks and other heavy equipment, reports "Südostschweiz". This is because the basins fulfill an important protective function for Lostallo and Cabbiolo. Mayor Nicola Giudicetti explains: "Otherwise we will have a problem if there is heavy rainfall."

The next thunderstorms are likely to move across Switzerland as early as Tuesday. On Wednesday, there is likely to be widespread rain and thunderstorms. However, according to the latest report from Meteonews, it is not yet possible to say how severe the thunderstorms will actually be.

11 p.m.

We end the ticker on Monday, June 24, 2024

10.21 pm

Search for missing persons in Misox continues

Two people have been missing in the southern Graubünden valley of Misox since the severe storm on Friday evening. The search for the two people remained unsuccessful on Monday, as reported by the Graubünden cantonal police on Monday afternoon.

On Friday evening, a mudslide destroyed three houses in the village of Sorte GR. One resident was rescued injured on Saturday. The body of a man was found by rescue workers on Sunday in the Moesa River, which flows through the Misox.

The search for the two people who are still missing is continuing, the Graubünden cantonal police told the Keystone-SDA news agency early on Monday evening.

The storm caused extensive damage in the valley between the San Bernardino Pass and Bellinzona TI. The Graubünden buildings insurance company explained on Monday that, in an initial estimate, around 200 buildings were expected to be damaged in the southern valley.

The Swiss energy company Axpo temporarily shut down six hydroelectric power plants due to the flood situation in the Misox. Some were damaged and need to be repaired.

The Swiss Sponsorship for Mountain Regions announced on Monday that it was making one million francs available to the communities affected by the storm in a special storm fund.

4.59 pm

Damage to 200 properties

On Monday, the buildings insurance of the canton of Graubünden reported damage to around 200 properties as a result of the storm in Misox GR. The amount of damage is likely to be in the tens of millions.

The extent of the storm damage to buildings in the southern Graubünden valley is extensive. "Our initial estimate is that around 200 buildings have been damaged," Marc Handlery, Director of the Graubünden buildings insurance company, told the Keystone-SDA news agency. He took a look at the extent of the destruction in Misox on Monday.

The damage to the buildings is spread across several villages in the valley. They vary in severity. In Sorte GR, a mudslide completely destroyed three houses. In other places, cellars were filled with water and mud, it said.

The amount of damage is in the double-digit million range, Handlery added. More precise details could be provided "in the course of the week". Several experts are currently documenting the damage on site.

11.53 a.m.

Railroad line between Visp and Täsch remains closed

The Vispa river, which burst its banks during the storms in Valais, has severely damaged the railroad line between Visp and Täsch in three places. The repair work is expected to take at least until the end of the week. Replacement buses will be running.

A spokesperson for the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Monday that geologists and engineers were on site to analyze how the repair work could be carried out. The affected areas are no longer stable and are already "difficult to access" under normal circumstances. The rest of the route is also being analyzed "metre by metre" to ensure that everything is in order before rail operations can resume.

Replacement buses are running as far as Täsch. The railroad line from Täsch to Zermatt was able to reopen on Saturday evening.

The railroad company, which is insured according to the spokesperson, is unable to quantify the damage for the time being. These would first have to be estimated by experts.

The very narrow and steep Mattertal valley is susceptible to natural hazards, said the spokesperson. Although this is not the first time that the railroad company has been confronted with such events, the scope and extent of the damage this time is "unusual".

10.24 a.m.

Repair work has begun on the A13 in Misox

The first repair work has begun on the A13 highway through the Misox after the storm on Friday evening. The Federal Roads Office (Astra) assumes that, given favorable weather conditions, the A13 will be partially open to traffic again in about a month.

'The southbound carriageway will be restored first,' Astra media spokesman Jérôme Jacky told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Monday morning. This carriageway will be ready in around four weeks, provided the construction work goes smoothly. This will depend on the weather, for example, according to Jacky. Exactly how the road will be reopened to traffic is still to be determined.

As long as the A13 at Lostallo GR is closed, there will certainly be additional traffic on the alternative routes through or over the Alps, Jacky continued. "We are currently analyzing what measures we can take to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible on these other routes."

Astra is already pointing out the closed A13 to road users on large display boards along the highways. In western Switzerland, the route over the Simplon Pass is recommended for the journey south.

In the coming weeks, every road user can contribute to ensuring smooth traffic flow by planning their routes and travel times as well as possible.

On Friday evening, the River Moesa tore away a section of the A13 near Lostallo GR during a storm. The highway has been closed there ever since.

10.09 a.m.

After floods comes a plague of mosquitoes on Lake Constance

Mosquitoes are spreading like wildfire on Lake Constance after the flooding. One could already speak of a mosquito plague, said Rainer Bretthauer, the environmental protection officer of the German town of Radolfzell on Lake Constance.

According to the mosquito expert, the flooding provides the perfect conditions for laying eggs. The result: masses of offspring. So-called flood mosquitoes, which hatch in large numbers after flooding, are particularly aggressive in their hunt for blood, as they need to reproduce quickly before the favorable conditions disappear again.

Flood midges like to lay their eggs on damp ground, often in riparian zones and floodplains. There they can survive in the soil for several years. When the laying sites are flooded and the temperature is favorable, the development from egg to biting mosquito begins. Large-scale flooding can lead to mass hatching.

Lake Constance tourists and residents should arm themselves, for example by wearing appropriate clothing, said Bretthauer. Loose-fitting, long clothing is recommended. Time also plays a role when spending time outside: "They become biting at dusk when it's over 18 degrees."

According to the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu), mosquitoes are a good thing for many animals. "All the insects that are now developing are a very important food source for many fish species and also for birds," said Eberhard Klein from Nabu in Constance.

9 a.m.

Two people are still missing in Misox

Following the storm on Friday evening in the southern Graubünden valley of Misox, two people are still missing. This was announced by a media spokesperson for the Graubünden cantonal police on Monday morning in response to an inquiry.

The search for the two people was not interrupted during the night, police spokesman Roman Rüegg told the Keystone-SDA news agency. Four people had gone missing on Friday evening in the valley, which stretches between the Bernina Pass in the north and Ticino in the south.

On Saturday morning, an injured woman was rescued from the debris of a mudslide that destroyed three houses in the village of Sorte GR. On Sunday, rescue workers found a male body in the Moesa River, which runs through the valley.

Later on Sunday evening, the authorities reopened the cantonal road through the Misox, but only for feeder services, not for transit and through traffic, as Roman Rüegg from the Graubünden cantonal police emphasized. The A13 highway remains closed after it was washed out by the Moesa.

Public transport through the Misox was resumed this Monday morning. However, according to the Graubünden authorities and SBB railroad information, irregular service and delays are to be expected.

Monday, June 24, 2024, 6.55 a.m.

Axpo has to shut down power plants in the flood area

Axpo has temporarily shut down six hydropower plants due to the flooding situation in Misox. Some were damaged and need to be repaired. However, all have been shut down in a controlled manner and are in a safe condition, the energy company announced on Monday.

According to the press release, the power plants affected by the flooding are the OIM (Officine Idroelettriche di Mesolcina SA), Calancasca SA and Elin (Elettricità Industriale SA) power plants. In addition, the Idro Arvigo AG small power plant operated by Axpo on behalf of BKW and the municipality of Calanca and Tecnicama AG's own small power plant were also shut down.

According to the press release, the OIM and Calancasca AG power plants only suffered minor damage. They are in a safe condition and can be put back into operation. They will be recommissioned in due course and in consultation with the authorities. The plants and reservoirs of Elettricità Industriale, on the other hand, suffered damage and can only be put back into operation once they have been repaired, Axpo writes further.

24:00

We end the ticker on Sunday, June 23, 2024

10.05 pm

A13 should be passable again in "three to four weeks"

The Deputy Director of the Federal Roads Office Astra, Guido Biaggio, has taken a look at the damage to the A13. Construction machinery should be brought in as soon as possible and a new route built, says Biaggio in an interview with "SRF". First, however, the water level of the Moesa must fall. The aim is to open the first half of the road to traffic as quickly as possible.

7.41 p.m.

Cantonal road to be opened to regional traffic

The civil engineering office will reopen the cantonal road in Misox on Sunday at 10 p.m., but only for feeder traffic. It will remain closed to through and transit traffic for at least a week. And it will not be used for north-south traffic, emphasized the President of the Graubünden cantonal government. "If international traffic also ends up using the cantonal road, then a collapse is more than inevitable," he said. The cantonal road should not become an alternative route.

Ideally, we want to make the first half of the road available to traffic. This means that it should be open to one lane of traffic. That would be our first priority and we have set ourselves that goal.

5.17 p.m.

Cassis in the disaster area: "These pictures speak for themselves"

Following the media conference, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited the disaster area. "These pictures speak for themselves. There are dead people underneath. The task now is to rescue them - with some hope that they are still breathing," he told media representatives.

16.24 hrs

Rescued woman from the Misox leaves the intensive care unit

The woman who was rescued from the rubble in Sorte GR on Saturday morning has left the intensive care unit of a hospital in Lugano TI. She was transferred to the normal ward. Physically, she is doing well under the circumstances.

This is what William Kloter, head of operations for the Graubünden police, told a reporter from the Keystone-SDA news agency during an inspection of the damage sites in Misox GR on Sunday. The woman had been able to activate the Swiss Air-Rescue (Rega) application on her cell phone from under the stones. This enabled her to be rescued.

She was found at the bottom of the cantonal road, the police officer said. The woman, who was in her mid-70s, lived in the middle of the three houses in Sorte that were swept away.

4.21 p.m.

Traffic jam in front of the Gotthard south portal eases

Over the course of the afternoon, traffic eased somewhat, but the traffic jam remained: shortly after 4 p.m., a traffic jam was still seven kilometers long. According to the TCS, drivers lost up to one hour and ten minutes.

#A2 - Chiasso -> Gotthard - zwischen Quinto und Rastplatz Dosierstelle Airolo Überlastung, 7 km Stau, Zeitverlust von bis zu 1 Stunde und 10 Minuten

— TCS Verkehr Gotthard (@TCSGotthard) June 23, 2024

4.10 p.m.

Water supply in Zermatt restored

The municipality of Zermatt has announced that the work on the burst pipe in Schluhmattstrasse in the Bergstube to Wichjiehaus area has been completed. All water users are back on the supply network.

2.50 pm

Media conference ends

The media conference participants thank those present and leave the room. And we would like to thank you for reading along.

2.49 p.m.

Woman thanks the emergency services

A local woman thanks the numerous helpers for their support. A man, who is probably also from the region, makes an emotional appeal to politicians: "The mountain cantons are severely affected by climate change and extreme weather events like this. I implore the Federal Council to ensure that there is enough money to protect us preventively from such events."

2.45 pm

Cantonal road no alternative to bypassing the destroyed A13

Parolini is asked whether the cantonal road could be used to bypass the destroyed A13. "That certainly can't be an alternative," he explains. The road must be kept free for local and regional traffic. "If national and international traffic is added, collapse is inevitable. That cannot be an alternative."

2.43 pm

President of the Graubünden cantonal government offers condolences to relatives

Parolini expresses his condolences to the family of the deceased. Regarding the further progress following the disaster, he explains: "The aim is to clear the site as quickly as possible." The main focus is now on clearing the cantonal road.

2.40 p.m.

Around 200 rescuers in action

Around 200 rescuers are working within the 20-kilometre closed zone, explains Kloter. They are concentrating on rescue and clean-up operations.

2.37 p.m.

The incident commander on the ongoing search operation

Head of Operations Kloter is asked again about the progress of the search operation. "In the course of this morning, we found a male body in the river through the alpine rescue team." "We don't want any more victims." The search for other missing persons is continuing. "We hope that we can be successful there too. "

2.34 p.m.

Kloter reports on the discovery of the body

Head of Operations Kloter explains: "The body that was recovered is male. It was found near Roveredo and was probably carried several kilometers by the avalanche or the weather." The family was informed immediately. It was "very sad", continued Kloter. They had tried to assess where the missing persons might be, and the search area had been set up accordingly. During the course of the morning, Alpine Rescue found the dead man in the river.

2.30 p.m.

Should north-south traffic be diverted abroad?

A journalist asks about alternative traffic routes. Cassis: "We are here today primarily to assure those affected of our support. But we will of course also look at the options with neighboring countries."

14.28 hrs

Man recovered dead

The police report that another body has been found. The relatives have already been informed. The search continues for the other two missing persons.

2.27 p.m.

"We don't want sightseeing"

The cantonal road should also remain closed so as not to disrupt the work of the emergency services. Kloter continues: "Anyone who lives or works within the closed section can pass through. No one else. We don't want any sightseeing."

2.24 pm

Head of operations Kloter: "There is still a risk"

Kloter explains that parts of the area remain closed. The cantonal road cannot yet be reopened. "A lot of water is still coming down and there is still a risk."

2.19 pm

Christian Vitta, President of the Cantonal Government of Ticino, comments

"Over the next few weeks, the authorities in Ticino and the Graubünden authorities will work closely together. The Misox is just as much a part of Ticino as it is of Graubünden."

2.16 p.m.

Jon Domenic Parolini, President of the Government of Graubünden, speaks

President of the cantonal government Jon Domenic Parolini explains: "We are very sad and affected by the situation." He expresses his support for those affected and promises solidarity and support for the reconstruction. "The commitment and solidarity shown during this difficult time deserves our utmost respect. Without the tireless efforts of the aid workers, the situation would be much worse than it is," says Parolini.

14.08 hrs

Press conference begins

Cassis expresses his horror at the severe damage in the region. He expresses his condolences and special thanks to all the helpers. At the same time, he praises the solidarity among the people. The affected areas can count on full support, says Cassis.

1.55 p.m.

Federal Councillor Cassis visits the Misox

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and representatives of the cantonal governments of Graubünden and Ticino visit Misox, which has been hit by several avalanches. We report live.

1.13 p.m.

Rise in water levels on Lake Constance slows down

The rise in water levels on Lake Constance slowed on Sunday compared to the previous day. The lake overflowed its banks in some places, but the police did not receive any reports of damage. According to the federal government, the highest level will be reached on Monday.

"We have not received any requests for help from municipalities," said a representative of the Kreuzlingen regional command staff at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. The municipalities could also request civil defense via the command staff should they require assistance due to the rising water levels.

In Gottlieben TG, parts of the lakeside promenade were under water, the representative of the command staff continued. In addition, the water was up to the houses in one place. In Ermatingen TG, near the outdoor pool, the cycle and hiking path was also under water.

However, the Thurgau cantonal police had not received any reports of damage due to the high water levels by Sunday morning, according to spokesman Matthias Graf.

Ticker from June 22, 2024

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