Torrential rain brings chaos to parts Switzerland. by Susan Powell
Two days of torrential rain have left large parts of north-west Switzerland under water. Heavy rains swept across the country on Wednesday and Thursday, killing one person and causing an estimated 20 million pounds worth of damage to buildings and infrastructure. Zurich was one of the hardest hit areas, reporting its largest daily rainfall amount in 100 years. Mass evacuations across the country have been taking place, with residents being told to empty their cellars and move their vehicles to higher grounds.
The effects of the storm have been felt across many neighbouring countries, with many tourist attractions having to close across Italy. In southern Germany, part of the Rhine has been closed following a sharp rise in the water levels. The Rhine is a major shipping route for grains, oil seeds and fuels, with the temporary closure of certain sections disrupting many transport routes.
The downpours have since subsided, with MeteoSwiss forecasters predicting some drier weather for the weekend. However with a large scale clean up operation now in place, it will be a while before many residents can return to normality.
|
|
