One dead as storms plunge 7,000 Swiss households into darkness

Storms and high winds in the Lake Lucerne region knocked out power across the area. Conditions were similar to this past wind storm on the Rigi mountain above the lake Keystone

Overnight storms with strong winds and heavy snowfall have cut off electricity to around 7,000 households in central Switzerland. The extreme weather also caused a landslide and flooding, cutting off roads and communities.

The overnight trail of destruction followed the death of a 60-year-old woman on Thursday morning, who was killed when a tree fell on a yurt tent she was camping in with her husband in canton Basel Country.

Gusts of up to 156kmph hit Switzerland as weather depression Zubin hit the country. Thousands of people in canton Lucerne have suffered severe power disruptions as heavy snow and strong winds took down power lines.

A landslide has cut off the road between Entlebuch and Wolhusen while floods forced the closure of a road near Emmen. The emergency services and electricity engineers are working to clear the damage and reestablish power.

Over the past two days, storms have disrupted flights at Zurich airport and lake ferry crossings.