21 June 2024 – Heavy rain affects Glacier Express train from Visp
A traveler shared concerns about recent flooding in Zermatt, which has been cut off due to heavy rainfall, causing the Mattervispa river to overflow. They want to know if they should change their travel plans for their trip in August, as they wish to support the local economy while being cautious.
- Check transport updates before traveling to Zermatt to avoid delays.
- Monitor any changes to trail and path closures for safety during your visit.
- Consider keeping your plans as Zermatt is expected to recover, but stay informed about local conditions.
AI-generated summary-
Hi,
A staff at the hotel in Zermatt we stayed in sent me this video today. Looking at the raging river which burst its banks and flooded the little town, familiar places we walked is scary.
Is this true:
Video in the link.—
Popular tourist destination of Zermatt has been cut off from outside world since Friday midday
Timo Kirez |
21.06.2024 – Update : 21.06.2024
GENEVA
Flooding occurred in the Swiss canton of Valais on Friday due to persistent rainfall, melting snow and waterlogged ground, local authorities reported on Friday.
In the popular tourist resort of Zermatt, next to the world-famous Matterhorn mountain, the Matttervispa river partially burst its banks. The mountain village has been cut off from the outside world since midday on Friday, as the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway announced on X on Friday.
In the canton of Valais, the river Rhone and its tributaries are threatening to burst their banks due to flooding, authorities have warned. The discharge of the Rhone has been at a high level since the morning.
According to the authorities, the Rhone is likely to rise even further. The authorities expect the river to reach its highest level by late evening.
The authorities are warning that flooding and landslides may also occur in the tributaries.
In view of the situation, the canton of Valais has decided to raise the warning level for the entire canton for the Rhone and tributaries from a warning level to an alert level.
“This means in particular that the monitoring system must be strengthened and that active preparations must be made to take measures,” the canton’s authorities said in a statement.
In the municipality of Chippis in the canton of Valais, around 30 people were evacuated on Friday, according to the daily Nouvelliste.
“It’s a precautionary measure,” the commune president told the newspaper. According to the mayor, the evacuees will spend the night in the commune’s gymnasium.
Meanwhile, the Swiss federal authorities raised the danger level for parts of the canton of Valais to the second-highest level 4 on Friday afternoon.
The canton of Valais recommends against approaching watercourses, parking on bridges, restricting freedom of movement and refraining from filming or photographing the storm events.
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Hi traveljet,
Thanks for the information.
We are aware of this situation. Travellers who are in Zermatt or travelling to Zermatt today, please take note train services may be affected between 21 June and 22 June 2024. You can find further information about the disruption on the SBB website: http://www.sbb.ch/en/travel-information/rail-traffic-information/operations-disruptions.html?poiid=639385
Regards,
Anna
Thank you for posting this information as I will be traveling there soon. Hopefully everyone is safe and the hotels/businesses will recover quickly from the water damage. A good reminder of the power of Mother Nature.
Hi Lastlook, the staff there told me that many of the shops, hotels and restaurants are going to have to do massive cleanup. It was pretty scary looking at the video and seeing familiar places that we walked when we were in Zermatt last year. I assume those business above street level should be able to open up.
Hopefully your trip wont’ be too soon. Stay safe.
Hi everyone,
Here’s some more footage from Zermatt showing the flooding, the clean-up and tourists gathered at the station waiting for a train out of Zermatt.
Apparently the train is currently just providing a shuttle service between Zermatt and Täsch, from where rail-replacement buses are transporting passengers to Visp. As the buses have greatly reduced capacity compared with the trains, it is taking much longer than usual to transport everyone to Visp.
Information on the transport situation between Zermatt and Visp can be found here:
https://www.matterhorngotthardbahn.ch/en/stories/timetable-rail-traffic-informations
My thoughts too are with everyone impacted by the flooding.
Alpenrose
Thanks Alpenrose for the links to the video. The staff at the hotel we stayed in last year (Couer D Alpes) mentioned that this is the first time it has been so disastrous. Hotel Coeur is on much higher ground so they are not affected in terms of damage. Some parts of the middle of the town which is not near the river is apparently still ok. We walked those areas impacted by the flooding and it’s even more emotional when watching the video.
This link is useful for the latest updates for transport as well.
https://www.zermatt.ch/en/Media/Liveticker-Zermatt-Matterhorn/Aktuelle-Situation-Zermatt-Matterhorn
Hi,
Please refer to my update here (scroll for the update):
http://www.myswissalps.com/community/thread/zermatt/
Regards,
Anna
Hi Alpenrose, Anna and others – my heart goes out to those impacted with the recent flooding in Zermatt. Your site is very helpful in getting information here in the US.
Our trip to Switzerland is towards the end of August and Zermatt is one of 4 towns we will visit. Does it make sense to a) keep the plans as is, b) add days to the other towns and limit to just 3 towns (we will be in Switzerland for 14 days, or should we c) look for another town to visit instead of Zermatt? My preference would be to keep Zermatt on our agenda and use our tourist $ to help the region, but I also want to make sure we optimize our time there.
Thanks for your continued help and support.
Michael
Hello Michael,
I would say there is no need to re-arrange your holiday plans unless another natural event occurs in the Zermatt area.
Zermatt is ‘open’ again, though there are currently some paths/trails which are closed.
Keep tabs on the website in the links provided. You can assess nearer the time if a change of plans is necessary.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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