Swiss mudslide village offered cruise by Greek tycoon
The inhabitants of the tiny Swiss village of Gondo, which was devastated by a landslide last year, have been invited on a one-week Mediterranean cruise by a Greek shipping tycoon.
Georges Poulides, chairman and chief executive of Festival Cruises, issued the invitation to the 150 inhabitants of Gondo as a gesture of solidarity. He said he had driven through the village on many occasions on his way to the nearby resort of Crans Montana.
Around 90 villagers seemed keen to take up the offer. They will be split into three groups of and take a cruise between July and September.
Last October, a third of Gondo was swept away by a landslide after torrential rains hit southern Switzerland and northern Italy. Thirteen of the village’s inhabitants were killed.
The Swiss solidarity chain, which has been collecting funds for people affected by the floods in canton Valais, where Gondo is located, and neighbouring canton Ticino, has so far raised SFr38 million.
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