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Ferocious Storms and Torrential Rains Leave Seven Dead In France, Switzerland, and Italy

Severe storms and heavy rainfall over the weekend resulted in seven fatalities and significant damage across France, Switzerland, and Italy, prompting evacuations and rescue operations.

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Aqsa Younas Rana
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Heavy rainfall in Kota Kinabalu and Penampang have caused extensive flooding.

A powerful storm system brought torrential rains and fierce winds to parts of France, Switzerland, and Italy.

Severe storms and torrential rains that battered France, Switzerland, and Italy this weekend have resulted in seven fatalities and left several areas in crisis, according to local authorities.

In France’s north-eastern Aube region, three elderly individuals died on Saturday when a tree fell on their car during intense winds, the local authority told Agence France-Presse. A fourth passenger in the vehicle is in critical condition.

Why This Matters: Switzerland faced severe impacts, with four confirmed deaths and one person missing due to flooding and landslides. In the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, three people were killed when a landslide, triggered by heavy rains, struck the region. Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported these deaths occurred in the Maggia Valley.

Additionally, a man was found dead in a hotel in Saas-Grund in Switzerland’s Valais canton. Initial investigations suggest he was caught off guard by rapidly rising floodwaters. Authorities are also searching for a 52-year-old man who went missing in the village of Binn on Saturday evening. The Valais Cantonal Police and the public prosecutor’s office have launched investigations into these incidents.

The flooding in Switzerland was caused by the sudden increase in water levels of several rivers, including the Rhône, due to the storms and melting snow. This led to debris flows, numerous road closures, and the evacuation of hundreds of people from the Canton of Valais. The local government reported "major damage" in the valleys near the Rhône River in Upper Valais and has called on the army for support.

In France, the Haute-Saône department near the Swiss border also experienced strong storms overnight. "Last night, Haute-Saône was hit by violent storms with intense rainfall and strong gusts of wind," the local government said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Key Takeaways:

  • Severe storms caused seven fatalities across France, Switzerland, and Italy.
  • Three elderly individuals in France died when a tree crushed their car.
  • Four deaths in Switzerland included three from a landslide and one from flooding.
  • Swiss authorities are searching for a missing person in Binn after the floods.
  • Evacuations and significant damage reported in Valais, Switzerland, due to the Rhône River overflow.

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