Storms in Switzerland: 70,000 lightning strikes and floods

After days of scorching heat with temperatures reaching 35 degrees and more, more than 70,000 lightning strikes struck Switzerland on Monday evening. Heavy rainfall caused flooding, landslides and mudslides. Several thunderstorm cells developed around Lake Brienz, causing heavy rainfall and moving on only slowly.

In Brienz, around 75 kilometers southeast of Bern, the small Milibach river overflowed its banks after heavy rainfall. It brought rubble and wood from higher elevations, which rushed through the streets. In the town on Lake Brienz, cars were swept away. The train station was also flooded. At Zurich Airport, almost two dozen flights had to be diverted.

Around 70 people were brought to safety as a precaution because their homes were at risk of flooding. According to the Upper Brienz Regional Management Body (RFO), no one was missing. There were no estimates of the extent of the damage. The train and boat connections to Brienz remained interrupted for the time being. Buses were running as a replacement. The road through the town was closed.

On Tuesday: The area of ​​the tracks at Brienz station is flooded and covered with rubble and mud.dpa

Grindelwald can only be reached to a limited extent

Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland is also only accessible to a limited extent. Mudslides buried the road between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald. The road was closed and the train connection was interrupted. The authorities set up alternative routes.

There was a rockslide above the Axenstrasse on Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland. The road runs directly along the lakeshore beneath a rock massif on the southern part of the lake. The monitoring systems had previously indicated terrain movements, so the canton of Uri had already closed the road as a precaution. The Federal Roads Office (Astra) wanted to inspect any damage by helicopter.