Hundreds cut off in Valley

Hundreds of people in the Calanca Valley in southern Graubünden remain cut off from the world after a rockfall blocked the main road heading to three villages on Sunday evening.

The only way in at the moment is by helicopter.

Around 600 m3 of rock crashed down after heavy rain, blocking 350 meters of the main cantonal road. Phone lines have also been damaged, limiting some internet access – although the mobile phone network is working. 

No one was hurt, but one resident told the Blick it was lucky the landslide was a Sunday evening – if it had been during the week, it would have been far more dangerous.

Fresh food is starting to run out, but - more worryingly - medications are now in short supply. 

However, the mayor Anton Theus says they’ve formed a crisis committee – but isn’t worried. It’ll be only for a few days he points out.

 

More from Bitesize News

  • Bank details compromised

    British digital bank Revolut has admitted handing customer information to fraudsters who impersonated a European government agency

  • Watch theft victim speaks out

    A luxury watch dealer just across the French border from Geneva has broken his silence about a violent robbery earlier this month

  • Crans Montana hearings due before end of year

    Jessica Moretti, who ran the Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, is now living in near-isolation in the Valais village of Lens more than eight months after the deadly New Year's Eve fire

  • Better news for economy

    Switzerland's economy will grow 1.7% this year — nearly double the 0.9% expansion forecast in June, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs said yesterday

  • Geneva budget plan unveiled

    Geneva has now put figures to its austerity plan — a CHF 546 million deficit for 2027, even after CHF 247 million in cuts

  • Summer fires increase

    Firefighters across French-speaking Switzerland tackled far more vegetation fires this summer than in any of the past five years

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play