Swiss volunteers mobilise to help flood victims in Italy
Residents of the Italian-speaking canton Ticino have traveled to northern Italy to help emergency teams as they rush to rescue people affected by severe flooding.
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Nicknamed by the Italian media as “Angeli del fango”, the angels of the mudExternal link, Ticino residents armed with shovels and brooms have been clearing streets and shoveling debris out of houses and businesses in northern Italy after heavy rains caused severe flooding. According to Swiss public television RTS around a dozen people from the Emilia-Romagna association in Ticino have traveled to Bologna.
As of Saturday morning, 14 people had died in the floods or from landslides and thousands have been left homeless. Rescuers have been working for days to save people trapped in their homes but another downpour on Friday complicated rescue efforts. The flooding in the Emilia-Romagna region has been described as the most severe flooding to affect ItalyExternal link in 100 years.
Swiss solidarity
Swiss president Alain Berset expressed shock over the flooding and offered solidarity with Switzerland’s southern neighbour.
The images of the devastating floods in the Emilia-Romagna region “shock and dismay us,” Berset, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency, wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
“Our thoughts are with our neighbours and we express our solidarity with those affected and their families,” he added in Italian.
Swiss army taking part in NATO exercise in Germany
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Justice minister warns over Swiss parliament protest against climate ruling
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Parts of Switzerland and Germany waterlogged as heavy rains continue
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Heavy rains continue to affect eastern Switzerland and the centre of the country. Flooding, landslides and damage to infrastructure have been reported. Further rains are forecast on Sunday.
Study: high pollen concentrations increase blood pressure
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A high concentration of pollen can increase blood pressure in allergy sufferers, according to a Swiss study. The effect is much more pronounced in women and people who are overweight.
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Ticino: Pensioners want to leave
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They want to get out of the sunny region as quickly as possible. Many older German-speaking Swiss want to leave Ticino. But it is not always easy.
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Ticino was the first Swiss region to be affected by increased mortality, as early as March 9, following the Covid-19 outbreak.
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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.