The two European countries are suffering this weekend from rains and floods seasoned with hurricane-force winds.
Three people disappeared on Saturday after a landslide caused by strong storms and rain in southeastern Switzerlandaccording to authorities.
A woman was rescued alive after being buried by a landslide in the Alpine valley of Misox, in Graubünden. An operation is being carried out rescue of the other three people.
And rockfall It affected a group of houses in the municipality of Lostallo. Rescuers have been searching throughout Saturday with excavators and search dogs.
William Kloter of the Swiss police, who is leading the rescue operations, told local media that I hoped to find the three missing alive. The President of Switzerland, Viola Amherd, was shocked by the extent of the damage caused by the bad weather.
“My thoughts are with those affected. I thank the emergency personnel for their tireless efforts in this difficult situation,” Amherd stated in X.
Elsewhere in Switzerland, the popular tourist destination of Zermatt, in the southern canton of Valais, near the iconic Matterhorn mountain, remains inaccessible. The strong Rains and melting ice have caused the Mattervispa River to overflowwhat has cut off access to the town.
Dramatic videos showed the otherwise small river running through Zermatt turning into a mudflow that partially submerged the streets of the popular ski resort.
The railway company announced Saturday morning on social media that The Matterhorn-Gotthard railway ceased operations by not having alternative means of transportation.
Emergency services in the canton of Valais were on high alert due to the level of the Rhône River, which reached its peak on Saturday. Authorities in the area evacuated 230 residents on Saturdaywith the municipality of Chippis being the most affected.
Authorities have warned residents to avoid lower parts of their homes – including basements – and to stay away from rivers grown and refrain from parking on bridges. For safety reasons, authorities also warned against filming or photographing the floods.
Poland receives hurricane-force rains and winds
Meanwhile, thunderstorms and hailstorms have hit southeastern Poland, and the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has issued the maximum weather alert for the area. The State Fire Service has received more than 900 damage reports.
A spokesman for the agency predicted torrential rains and“hurricane” wind speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour in the region, as well as winds strong enough to uproot trees and knock down billboards.
“These are really serious alerts,” declared the spokesman for the Subcarpathian Regional Commander of the State Fire Services, Brygadier Marcin Betleja. “Forecasters are predicting heavy rain and hurricane-force winds in the region,” he added.
“For your own safety, it’s better to stay home. They should close all windows, doors and remove all their belongings that could be blown by the wind from their balconies or gardens and potentially harm others. Under no circumstances enter parks and forests: broken branches or fallen trees could harm you,” Betleja said.
