Landslide victims in Schwanden GL without certainty
Published: Friday, Nov 24th 2023, 12:40
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After the devastating landslides in Schwanden GL at the end of August, some people will never be able to return to their homes. The authorities want to clarify the situation in December. Hopes are still high for some of the 61 evacuees.
"Some buildings are simply no longer there, some are in acute danger of collapsing," said Hansruedi Galliker, communications officer for the Glarus Süd municipal command staff, when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency on Friday. There will be some people who will never be able to return.
In December, the cantonal authorities want to present an incident hazard map, according to which it will be clear which areas are still habitable in the long term and which are not. Some of those affected still have high hopes of returning at some point. This is shown by regular meetings. Experts currently assume that a return is possible in some areas near the buried zone. However, they are talking about spring to fall next year, Galliker continued.
Problems with insurance companies
All evacuees have found temporary accommodation. However, there is often a lack of household goods or insurance money. Many of those affected do not know exactly what of their possessions have been damaged because they have never been able to return to their homes. However, the insurance companies often insist on exactly this information and refer to guidelines. The responsible authorities now want to appeal to the insurance association for goodwill.
Donations are also in short supply. The municipality is currently looking into ways to increase the balance of 390,000 francs. The processing of applications for financial support has recently been criticized by those affected: it takes too long for money to flow.
The Donations Commission defended itself against the accusations. They did not want to use the donations to relieve the insurance companies, they said. Therefore, every application must be carefully examined to exclude other sources of money.
Cinema film and television program
A movie will soon show just how severe the events in Schwanden are for individual people. The filmmaker Hedwig Bäbler is currently filming in the canton of Glarus on behalf of Swiss Television (SRF) and is shedding light on the fate of a man whose home was destroyed in the landslides. It is not yet clear when the film, which focuses on various housing situations, will be released, Bäbler said on request. However, it is clear that a TV episode of the "Einstein" format will be dedicated to the events in Schwanden in January.
Exploratory drilling is currently being carried out in Schwanden to see how the area is moving. In the meantime, flood protection structures have also been set up in the neighboring Sernf River and protective structures have been erected for buildings. There is still a risk of 60,000 cubic meters of material sliding into the depths - twice as much as came down at the end of August and destroyed and damaged several houses.
©Keystone/SDA
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