Storms kill at least four people in Switzerland's southern Alps. June 30, 2024

Storms kill at least four people in Switzerland's southern Alps.

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Storms kill at least four people in Switzerland's southern Alps.

At least four people have died after major flooding and landslides caused by heavy storms hit Switzerland and northern Italy.

The bodies of three people were recovered after a landslide in the Italian-speaking Swiss county of Ticino, on the southern side of the Alps.

Heavy rains hit southern and western Switzerland throughout the weekend. Camping sites were evacuated, bridges collapsed and one person is still missing in Switzerland's Lavizzara valley.

Further north, the Rhone River overflowed in several areas of the Valais region. A highway and a railway line were flooded.

Local police said that the side valleys to the south of the Rhone suffered particularly heavy rains, and the body of a man whose partner had reported her missing was found on Sunday morning. Police said they believed he had been taken by surprise by the floods.

Floods, storms, and landslides also hit regions of Italy. Firefighters said they carried out around 80 rescue operations, evacuating dozens of people in the northern region of Piedmont.

Near Montanaro, two adults, and a three-month-old girl were rescued after rising waters left them trapped in their car.

Several villages in the Valle d'Aosta region have been cut off due to overflowing streams, storm surges, and landslides

vog/imm/cw