Heavy rain hits central and eastern Switzerland
A level 3 weather alert was issued on Friday for parts of central and eastern Switzerland due to heavy and continuous rain.
Despite isolated showers, sunny weather and summer temperatures are expected there for the weekend and next week. (illustrative image)
AFP
After the drought of the past few weeks, heavy rains fell on Friday morning in the central and eastern Alps, causing floods in places. French-speaking Switzerland was spared.
Near Appenzell, the Sitter river overflowed in places, as pictures from the German-speaking SRF television showed. The canton of Thurgau called on the population not to approach the watercourse or to leave the area concerned. In the canton of Schwyz, more than 100 liters of rain fell per square meter between midnight and 1 p.m., the MeteoNews service tweeted. Wesen (SG) counted 92 liters per square meter.
In the canton of St. Gallen, firefighters had to engage more than 200 times, detailed the police to Keystone-ATS. Most of the engagements were due to flooded cellars. No injuries were immediately reported.
Landslide
In addition, a landslide occurred at midday on the Seewen-Lauerz (SZ) road. The link will probably remain closed all weekend. The Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss has issued a level 3 weather alert (“significant danger”) for parts of central and eastern Switzerland due to continuous intense rain. This alert is valid until midnight.
In French-speaking Switzerland, the level 2 alert was lifted on Friday. The episode of disturbances is over, according to MeteoSwiss. Despite isolated showers, sunny weather and summer temperatures are expected there for the weekend and next week.
ATS
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