The government Ticino calls for more support from the federal government after storms

The Ticino government is dissatisfied with the federal financial aid promised so far for the reconstruction of the Maggia Valley. It is calling for a meeting with the Federal Council and additional aid money. The storm in Ticino was an "exceptional event".

"We are dissatisfied with the federal government's response regarding aid for the Maggia Valley," said Christian Vitta, President of the Ticino cantonal government, when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency.

The reconstruction of the completely destroyed Visletto Bridge alone, which connects the lower and upper Maggia Valley, will cost a great deal. According to reports, the federal government will contribute little or nothing to this.

The Ticino government estimates that the reconstruction of the Maggia Valley, which was devastated by a severe storm, will cost around CHF 100 million.

"Extraordinary support needed"

In order to obtain greater support, it is now calling for a meeting with the responsible federal councillors: "We have written to the departments of Albert Rösti and Guy Parmelin and asked for a meeting," Vitta continued. The aim is for the federal government to recognize that "extraordinary support" is needed.

The upper Maggia Valley was hit by a severe storm on June 29. At least seven people lost their lives in mudslides and landslides in the Maggia and Bavona valleys. One person is still missing.

At the end of July, the Swiss army built a temporary replacement bridge for the Visletto Bridge near Cevio, which had been washed away by the masses of water. During the summer, members of the army spent a total of 3400 days on duty dealing with the severe storm damage in Ticino and Valais. There were also 87 flying hours.

SDA