SWITZERLAND: TONNES OF MUD DISLODGED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN SLAMMED THROUGH THE CENTRE OF A SWISS VILLAGE

Record ID: 646976

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: TONNES OF MUD DISLODGED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN SLAMMED THROUGH THE CENTRE OF A SWISS VILLAGE
  • Date: 17th November 2002
  • Summary: (U3) SCHLANS VILLAGE, SWITZERLAND (NOVEMBER 17, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PAN/CU PULL OUT LV MUD SLIDE THAT GOES THROUGH THE VILLAGE (2 SHOTS) 0.29 2. LV CAR STUCK IN MUDSLIDE 0.37 3. AERIAL OF THE VILLAGE OF SCHLANS 0.57 4. AERIAL OF SOURCE OF THE MUDSLIDE (2 SHOTS) 1.20 5. AERIALS OF MUDSLIDE GOING THROUGH VILLAGE (2 SHOTS) 1.44 6. AERIAL COLLAPSED HOUSE AND TRAPPED CAR IN MUDSLIDE 1.51 (U3) TRUN VILLAGE, SWITZERLAND (NOVEMBER 17, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 7. PAN FROM MOUNTAIN TO THE VILLAGE OF TRUN 2.02 (U3) REUEN VILLAGE, SWITZERLAND (NOVEMBER 17, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 8. AERIAL REUEN VILLAGE NEAR THE RIVER 2.11 9. AERIAL HELICOPTER SHOT OF REUEN WITH FLOODED HOUSES (3 SHOTS) 3.00 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd December 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SCHLANS, TRUN AND REUEN; SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Reuters ID: LVA4W7CMOENDI5KKQXCBLEAC5AG5
  • Story Text: A Swiss Alpine villagers have been counting their
    blessings after tonnes of mud dislodged by torrential rain
    slammed through the centre of their village. Nobody was
    killed in the slide although three people were badly injured.



    Lucia Bundi, one of around 100 people who live in the
    tiny village of Schlans perched above the Rhine river in the
    mountainous eastern canton of the Grisons, was was eating
    lunch with her family on Saturday (November 16) when she heard
    rumbling noises and excited voices outside, as rains pelted
    the region.

    Floodwater ripped through the village, smashing down a
    mill and farm buildings.

    Local helicopter pilot Markus Levy braved terrible weather
    and was finally able to fly out some stranded residents, while
    others made their way out on foot.

    Three people were badly hurt when a mudslide rammed them
    as they tried to bulldoze clear a blocked road in the town of
    Reuen.

    The freak weather conjured up memories of October 2000,
    when 13 people died in a mudslide that hit the southwestern
    Swiss town of Gondo.

    Mudslides and flooding continued to disrupt transport on
    Sunday (November 17). Rescue crews were unable to reach some
    areas because of blocked roads so the number of injuries
    remained unclear.

    Dozens of people were evacuated from the villages of
    Clavaniev, Curaglia and Surrein as a precautionary measure.

    Around 100 more had to leave their homes in the village of
    Lully near Geneva at the opposite end of the country.

    Landslides in the central canton of Uri and southern
    canton of Ticino also shut down several roads and some rail
    links.

    Dangerously swollen lakes and streams burst their banks in
    some places, but water levels were starting to recede on
    Sunday morning as the weather improved.

    Major rail lines, including the Gotthard and Simplon
    routes through the Alps that connect northern Europe with
    Italy, were open again after disruptions on Saturday.


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