A landslide in southern Switzerland claimed the lives of three German holidaymakers over the weekend. The accident buried several houses in Ticino, leaving a devastating aftermath. Two of the victims were women aged 73 and 76 from Baden-Württemberg, while the third was a man whose identity has yet to be confirmed.
The tragedy occurred in Fontana in the Maggia Valley, where the landslide caused widespread destruction. Despite efforts by authorities to locate and identify the victims, it remains challenging to determine who lived in which house due to the devastation caused by the landslide.
The incident has had far-reaching impacts on the affected regions, with five other individuals still missing following the storm. Search operations are ongoing as military personnel work to aid with cleanup efforts. In addition, severe weather conditions have led to flooding and property damage in neighboring Valais, causing significant harm to local communities.
One particularly tragic incident involved a 67-year-old German individual who lost their life to flooding in a hotel basement in Valais. The disaster has prompted urgent response efforts from authorities and residents alike to mitigate further harm and restore normalcy to affected areas.
Despite these efforts, many people are still struggling with loss of electricity and drinking water in Ticino due to power outages caused by heavy rainfall and flooding of rivers such as Maggia River that swept away bridges like one near Cevio making access difficult for rescue teams.
Overall, this catastrophic event serves as a reminder of how natural disasters can have far-reaching impacts on communities and how important it is for governments and citizens alike to be prepared for such events.
