Search for missing persons continues – army helps after storms
Published: Tuesday, Jul 2nd 2024, 16:00
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After the severe storms in Ticino, Valais and Graubünden, the major clean-up operation continued on Tuesday. The army is also involved in dealing with the damage. In Ticino, the southern Graubünden valley of Misox and Valais, searches continued on Tuesday for a total of seven missing persons.
The search for the five missing people after the violent storm in the Maggia Valley is being hampered by the large amount of water in the Maggia River. According to information from the Ticino cantonal police, it is currently only possible to search on the surface of the water.
In addition to helicopters, Alpine Rescue specialists and sniffer dogs are also deployed. The operations focused in particular on the areas of Peccia and Prato Sornico as well as the section of the river between Pian di Peccia and Bignasco.
Eleven psychologists and counselors are also on duty in the upper Maggia Valley. They are supporting people who have been particularly hard hit by the effects of the storm.
In the upper Maggia Valley, the electricity and mobile phone network that was destroyed at the weekend has largely been restored. Only in Mogno and Piano di Peccia are there still problems with the electricity supply, explained Renato Pizolli, head of communications for the Ticino emergency services. The construction of an auxiliary military bridge is planned near Cevio in the Maggia Valley.
135 members of the armed forces
Following the storms in Valais, the Swiss Armed Forces are involved in the clean-up and reconstruction work. The operation will last until July 10 and can be extended if necessary. Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Claude Gagliardi, head of operations for the army, said this at a media conference in Sierre. Around 135 members of the armed forces are currently helping to deal with the storm damage in Ticino and Valais.
In the Sierre and Chippis region of Valais, members of the Disaster Relief Standby Battalion and the 6th Engineer Battalion are busy pumping out masses of water and clearing traffic routes.
Two companies specializing in aluminium products in Sierre VS and Chippis VS came to a standstill. It was initially unclear when operations would be restarted. The companies have applied for short-time working compensation.
In Valais, one death has been reported in Saas Grund. The search for a missing 52-year-old man in the municipality of Binn continued.
The Lausanne-Brig railroad line between Leuk and Gampel-Steg VS is expected to remain closed until Thursday due to the flooding. Replacement buses were available for travelers between Sierre and Visp and Gampel-Steg and Leuk. Both long-distance and regional trains were affected by the interruption. SBB advises travelers between Geneva Airport, Geneva, Lausanne and Visp as well as Brig to travel via Bern.
220 Building damage in Graubünden
The search for a missing person also continued in Misox in Graubünden. It is not yet clear how long the search will continue and where the search will be conducted, said Justice and Security Director Peter Peyer (SP). So far, the storms on June 21 and the subsequent floods and debris flows in the Misox have claimed two lives. Another person was rescued alive from the masses of debris.
The buildings insurance company has so far received 220 reports of damage to buildings in the southern Graubünden valley. In the Misox and Calanca valleys, it estimates the extent of the damage to be between 8 and 15 million francs. The severely affected municipality of Lostallo puts the total damage in its area at 38 million francs. In addition, around one square kilometer of cultivated land was buried.
Companies affected by the storm and its consequences, particularly those in the catering and hotel industry, could apply to the canton for short-time working compensation, said Director of Economic Affairs Marcus Caduff (center).
According to the Graubünden government, a single-lane reopening of the San Bernardino highway is still planned for the morning of July 5. The cantonal road will also be reopened, probably from the north to Mesocco in both directions. However, it will remain closed to transit traffic between Mesocco and Grono.
Rösti in favor of adjusting protection levels
Environment Minister Albert Rösti believes that the risk of further damage caused by storms in Switzerland cannot be prevented. "There is no life without risk," said Rösti on SRF Radio's "Tagesgespräch" program. This is particularly the case in mountainous areas.
We must now ensure that the events have less impact. The federal government alone pays CHF 160 million a year for protective measures. However, the money could be used in a more targeted and risk-based manner, said Rösti.
©Keystone/SDA
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