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The locks are open: locally, 300 millimeters of rain is expected for Sunday night. (In the photo: Cresciano in Ticino). Image: keystone
Torrential rains in Ticino trigger the highest alert level
Massive rains in Ticino and Graubünden since Friday night have caused numerous landslides and flooded roads. In some places, more rain fell in a few hours than in an entire month of August.
The Magadino plain was severely affected by heavy rains. According to SRF Meteo, 242 millimeters of rain per square meter fell here as of 1:20 a.m. Sunday morning. But it also rained a lot in the Engadine. At the Bernina Hospice, 181 millimeters of rain were recorded in the last 36 hours. At Airolo it was 131 millimeters.
Heavy rains have caused water levels in Ticino rivers and lakes and in the central and eastern Alps to rise since Friday night. Several small rivers have temporarily overflowed. The level of Lake Lugano also rose rapidly, but without exceeding a critical threshold, as can be seen in the federal natural hazards bulletin.
Mud slides in Ticino
The large amount of rain caused numerous landslides and floods, especially in Ticino. As the Ticino Online Internet portal writes, Biasca, Cresciano, Magadino, Cugnasco-Gerra, Tenero, Gordola and Locarno, among others, were affected. A landslide struck several houses in Bissone. In Riazzino, the water in the street was sometimes 30 centimeters.
According to traffic information from TCS, the Verzasca Valley was isolated from the outside world for several hours due to landslides and landslides. The cantonal road between Biasca and Arbedo is closed in both directions between Preonzo and Gnosca until further notice. This also applies to the main road between Biasca and Distentis, which was closed due to a landslide.
Highest warning level for rain
Rain Alert Level 5 was applied in northern Ticino and in the adjacent areas of Graubünden and in the canton of Uri. The images of the readers on the online portals gave an impression of the torrential rain in Ticino. You could see high rivers and streams, underwater streets and cars in the water, as well as streets that were no longer passable due to downed trees and landslides.
Warning level 5: there is a high risk of flooding until Sunday
Due to the large amount of rain in the canton of St. Gallen, the footpaths and cycle paths along the Rhine from Diepoldsauer Rheinbrücke to Lake Constance will be closed for safety reasons until further notice, as announced by the international regulation of the Rhine on Saturday night. The population is asked not to be near the Rhine in order not to hinder a possible deployment of the Rhine company and the fire brigades.
Boulders and mud after a landslide in Bissone on Saturday. Image: keystone
Train runs on landslide
There were also disruptions to rail traffic in Ticino. A train collided with a landslide shortly after noon between Gambarogno and San Nazzaro. According to SBB, there were five passengers and a driver on board.
The train had to be towed, as SBB spokesman Martin Meier told the Keystone-SDA news agency. Following the landslide, the route between Cadenazzo and Luino (I) is expected to be interrupted until Monday. Used spare buses are coming.
In Avegno, in the Maggia Valley, drinking water has been contaminated since Saturday due to heavy rains. Alertswiss urged residents not to drink the water, not to use it for cooking and not to wash with it.
No later than the second half of Sunday night, according to SRF Meteo, the rain will again fall practically all over Switzerland. In Ticino, up to 130 millimeters of rain is expected in some places until Sunday night. (sda)
