Some 10% of all goods imported to Switzerland come via the Rhine and Basel.
Keystone
As unseasonably warm and dry conditions persist, container ships are no longer able to move in and out of Switzerland’s key port on the Rhine, in Basel.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-Keystone/dos
العربية
ar
المستوى المُنخَفِض لمياه نهر الراين يعيق مرور السّفن
Since Friday, the port in northern Switzerland has been forced to suspend the movements of container ships due to persistent low water levels.
Heinz Amacker, head of the Danser Schweiz shipping company, told public broadcaster SRF that he had never seen such a situation before; all eight of his vessels remain docked and immobile.
According to SRF, which also reported on the growing problem some weeks ago, some 10% of all goods imported to Switzerland pass through the port of Basel. These goods will now have to be transported by rail or – more expensively – by road.
Low water levels are in evidence across the country as a historically hot and dry summer has mellowed just slightly into an Autumn of t-shirt weather and minimal precipitation.
Switzerland’s second-largest river, the Aare, is also showing signs of drying, with patches of stony riverbed to be seen in the capital, Bern. Measurements at the Murgenthal station showed that the current level of 398.37 metres above sea level is 22 centimetres lower than the usual mid-October average, reports the Solothurner Zeitung paper.
And though Swiss water supplies, buoyed by underground sources, are unlikely to come under pressure, fish and vegetation have been suffering from the lower levels and higher temperatures of the rivers.
Earlier, in August, when the heat wave pushed the water temperature in parts of the Rhine above 27 degrees Celsius (80.6 degrees Fahrenheit), thousands of fish were killed, while cold-water-loving trout and grayling were forced to move away from usual habitats to escape the heat.
Conditions in Switzerland are set to remain warm, sunny, and dry until early next week, according to MeteoSwiss.
More
More
Demographics
Fish dying in the Rhine
This content was published on
With water temperatures exceeding 27 degree Celsius (80.6 Fahrenheit), large numbers of fish have died in the Rhine.
Swatch withdraws ‘slanted eyes’ ad after China uproar
This content was published on
The Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch has apologised and withdrawn an advertising campaign worldwide following accusations of racism in China. The ad features a model pulling the corners of his eyes.
Police identify bodies of three climbers who died in Swiss Alps
This content was published on
Police have formally identified the bodies of three climbers who died in the Upper Valais region in early August: they are from Germany, France and Austria.
Bern exhibition reunites Kirchner paintings after 92 years
This content was published on
The painting Sonntag der Bergbauern (Alpsonntag) [Sunday of the Mountain Farmers (Alp Sunday) by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880-1938) is being transferred from Berlin to Bern to feature in an upcoming exhibition at Kunstmuseum Bern.
Voters approve extension of Engadine Airport in Switzerland
This content was published on
Residents in the Upper Engadine region gave the greenlight on Sunday to the expansion of the regional airport at Samedan, one of Europe’s highest airports (1,707 metres) that serves the nearby resorts of St Moritz and Davos.
Private equity group Advent to buy U-Blox for $1.3 billion
This content was published on
Private equity group Advent International has agreed to take over Switzerland's U-Blox Holding in a cash offer worth CHF1.05 billion ($1.30 billion).
Trump made direct financial demands during call with Swiss president
This content was published on
During the telephone call between Karin Keller-Sutter and Donald Trump on July 31, Trump demanded direct payments from Switzerland, according to an investigation by SonntagsBlick.
Demonstrators in Swiss capital demand better access to mental health care
This content was published on
Thousands of people demonstrated in Berne on Saturday afternoon against long waiting lists, the lack of therapy places and the absence of a clear pricing structure.
This content was published on
Swiss companies' expectations for salary growth are down by 0.3 percentage points compared to a year ago, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Economic Research (KOF).
One Swiss national killed in plane accident in southern France
This content was published on
A Swiss national was killed alongside a German national in a crash involving two light aircraft on Saturday afternoon in Saint-Pons, south-eastern France.
Over 6,000 apprenticeships remain unfilled in Switzerland
This content was published on
By mid-August, which is the start of the Swiss school year, some 6,400 apprenticeship vacancies remain, mainly in the construction, catering and machinery industries.
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.
Read more
More
Swiss glaciers shrink further after extreme 2018 weather
This content was published on
Weather extremes over the past year, including one of the hottest summers on record, was devastating to the nation’s glaciers, a study has shown.
This content was published on
Heavy rain and flooding interrupted the long-running hot and dry spell in some parts of Switzerland, but the drought continues.
This content was published on
The town of Sion in southwestern Switzerland registered 36.2°C (97.2°Fahrenheit) on Sunday, according to the local weather station. The record for Sion is 37.8°C. And in 2003, temperatures rose to 41.5°C in southeastern Switzerland and 39.7°C in Geneva in 2015. Meteonews expects afternoon temperatures above 35°C and at least 20°C at night in lower-lying regions…
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.