Cantons watching 336 Alpine sites for natural disasters
Swiss cantons are keeping 336 zones in the Alps under surveillance because of climate-change related risk, such as landslides, rock slides and mudslides, according to two Sunday newspapers.
Le Matin Dimanche and SonntagsZeitung say their investigation reveals for the first time “the extent of the surveillance and the number of critical locations under observation”.
Experts say soil and rock in the Alps is becoming more fragile because of climate change, meaning parts could slide off into the valleys causing considerable damage. This risk is heightened by extreme weather such as last week’s torrential rains.
The 336 slopes and rock faces are under surveillance because they could cause road and rail infrastructure to be cut off or destroy buildings, report the newspapers. Some sites are under 24-hour surveillance with radar, sensors equipped with GPS, cameras or lasers. Others are only examined periodically by geologists. Some places are equipped with automatic alarm systems.
Canton Bern has 131 sites under surveillance, situated mainly in ski resorts, the papers found. Canton Valais has 63 roads under observation, while in Graubünden 42 sites are classified as zones at risk. They include Bondo, where a massive mudslide in August 2017 killed eight people and partially buried the village.
Up to now, the sites under surveillance have not been known to the public, the newspapers say. Some cantons have refused to reveal what steps they have taken, saying they do not wish to spread fear, or that valuable surveillance equipment could be vandalised.
Now, however, the Federal Office for the Environment is demanding that the cantons publish a unified list. Within five years all the information will be online, the papers report.
Since 1946, 169 people have died in Switzerland because of landslides or rock slides.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
This content was published on
The massive landslide that swept through Bondo, a small village in canton Graubünden, in August caused damage of around CHF41 million.
This content was published on
The north-south Gotthard road tunnel in southern Switzerland is currently closed due to a mudslide that hit the A2 motorway on Monday.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.