A dramatic accident occurred in southern Switzerland over the weekend when a landslide buried several houses in Ticino, resulting in the loss of three lives. The police have confirmed that the deceased were German holidaymakers. The victims, two women aged 73 and 76 from Baden-Württemberg, were discovered after the landslide in Fontana in the Maggia Valley. It is believed that at least two of the three victims knew each other, although it is challenging to determine which house each person resided in due to the devastation caused by the landslide.
Following the storm, five other individuals remain missing in Ticino, and the authorities are actively working to locate them. The Maggia River wreaked havoc in the area, sweeping away a bridge near Cevio, making the upper Maggia Valley only accessible by air. Military personnel have been dispatched to the region to assist with the cleanup efforts, as the aftermath of the storms has left parts of the valley without electricity and drinking water.
In a neighboring canton, Valais, heavy rain and flooding of the Rhône River resulted in significant property damage. A tragic incident occurred where a 67-year-old German individual lost his life after being caught in the floodwaters in the basement of a hotel. The devastation caused by the storms and resulting flooding has had a profound impact on the region, with authorities actively engaged in search, rescue, and recovery operations.