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13,000 stranded in Swiss ski resort of Zermatt Tourists evacuated from Swiss ski resort of Zermatt
(about 1 hour later)
About 13,000 holidaymakers are trapped with only intermittent power in the upmarket Swiss ski resort of Zermatt, unable to leave because of heavy recent snowfall and an exceptional risk of avalanches, authorities have said. Helicopters are evacuating stranded holidaymakers from the upmarket Swiss ski resort of Zermatt after about 13,000 tourists were stranded in the mountain village for two days by heavy recent snowfall and an exceptional risk of avalanches.
“Arrivals and departures are to and from Zermatt are not possible at the moment,” the resort said on its website. “All hiking paths and cable cars remain closed – please follow instructions. We kindly ask you to stay at home.” Local police said the airlift was taking about 100 people an hour who urgently needed to leave Zermatt to the nearby village of Täsch, a three minute flight, from where rail replacement buses were available for their onward journey.
The resort said on its website that ski slopes, hiking paths and cable cars around the village remained closed. It advised people to follow instructions and stay at home so as not to hamper the ongoing clear-up operation.
A spokeswoman for the well-known winter sports resort near the Matterhorn mountain, Janine Imesch, said the precautions were sensible and there was no immediate risk to “around 13,000 tourists” who were stuck there, approaching Zermatt’s maximum capacity.A spokeswoman for the well-known winter sports resort near the Matterhorn mountain, Janine Imesch, said the precautions were sensible and there was no immediate risk to “around 13,000 tourists” who were stuck there, approaching Zermatt’s maximum capacity.
Imesch said electricity in the village had now been restored after an earlier power cut, although the resort’s website continued to warn of “possible power breakdowns all over Zermatt”. Limited helicopter flights out were available to those who needed them, the resort said, and a further update is expected at 7pm local time. Imesch said electricity in the village had now been restored after an earlier power cut, although the resort continued to warn of “possible power breakdowns all over Zermatt”. A further update was expected at 7pm local time.
The access road to the mountain village, which has a resident population of about 5,500, has been closed since Monday morning because of the extreme avalanche risk and trains have been unable to reach the station since 5.30pm on Monday, Imesch told AFP. The access road to the mountain village, which has a resident population of about 5,500, was closed on Monday morning because of the extreme avalanche risk and trains have been unable to reach the station since 5.30pm on Monday.
“No one can go skiing or hiking, but it’s quiet, a little bit romantic,” she insisted. “Everything is fine. There is no panic.” Surveillance flights are being carried out in an effort to determine how long the travel ban might last. “No one can go skiing or hiking, but it’s quiet, a little bit romantic,” Imesch insisted. “Everything is fine. There is no panic.”
The avalanche risk around Zermatt and several other resorts, including Saas-Fee in the south-western Valais region, was raised to its maximum level of five on Monday night, the region’s president, Romy Biner-Hauser, said. The avalanche risk around Zermatt and several other resorts in the south-western Valais region, including Saas-Fee, was raised to its maximum level of five on Monday night, the region’s president, Romy Biner-Hauser, said.
Biner-Hauser told the local newspaper Le Nouvelliste that some residents had been warned to keep their window shutters closed and that while no evacuation had yet been ordered, the situation “is being monitored every half hour and if things change we will take the necessary measures”. Biner-Hauser told the local newspaper Le Nouvelliste that some residents had been warned to keep their window shutters closed. The situation “is being monitored every half hour and if things change we will take the necessary measures”, he said.
A mild föhn wind has brought unseasonably high temperatures to lowland Switzerland, but areas above 1,400m altitude have seen more than a metre of snowfall in recent days, the Swiss broadcaster SRF said, tweeting pictures, with more forecast. A mild föhn wind has brought unseasonably high temperatures to lowland Switzerland, but areas above 1,400m altitude have seen well over a metre of snowfall in recent days, the Swiss broadcaster SRF said, with more forecast.
#Lawinengefahr Stufe 5 von 5 im #Südwallis gemäss #SLF. Das letzte Mal gab es Stufe 5 vor 9 Jahren mit einer ähnlichen Wetterlage wie aktuell. Föhn aus Südost #Rofel brachte viel Neuschnee nach #Zermatt.@WSL_research #Schnee ^ds pic.twitter.com/9S0E1ews0H#Lawinengefahr Stufe 5 von 5 im #Südwallis gemäss #SLF. Das letzte Mal gab es Stufe 5 vor 9 Jahren mit einer ähnlichen Wetterlage wie aktuell. Föhn aus Südost #Rofel brachte viel Neuschnee nach #Zermatt.@WSL_research #Schnee ^ds pic.twitter.com/9S0E1ews0H
The Swiss federal institute for forest, snow and landscape research, WSL, warned on Monday night that fresh snowfall coming on top of quantities of old snow that had fallen over the Christmas and new year holiday period could provoke “numerous large and, in many cases, very large natural avalanches”.The Swiss federal institute for forest, snow and landscape research, WSL, warned on Monday night that fresh snowfall coming on top of quantities of old snow that had fallen over the Christmas and new year holiday period could provoke “numerous large and, in many cases, very large natural avalanches”.
It said such avalanches could reach “an exceptionally long way” and that exposed buildings and transport routes were endangered. “Extensive safety measures are to be maintained” particularly early in the day, it advised, although avalanche activity should decrease later.It said such avalanches could reach “an exceptionally long way” and that exposed buildings and transport routes were endangered. “Extensive safety measures are to be maintained” particularly early in the day, it advised, although avalanche activity should decrease later.