One dead in Swiss floods as Alpine resort Zermatt cut off

• The body of a man was found after severe flooding in Misox, with two people still missing and a woman rescued and hospitalised
• A massive thunderstorm caused rivers to overflow, flooding streets and leading to the evacuation of several dozen residents
• Floodwaters swept away three houses and three vehicles in Misox
• The alpine resort of Zermatt has been isolated due to floodwaters, with train links and roads closed, making the resort completely inaccessible

One dead in Swiss floods as Alpine resort Zermatt cut off

The body of a man has been found following severe flooding in the south-eastern Swiss town of Misox, in the alpine valley of Graubünden, also known as Grisons. A massive thunderstorm on Friday night caused rivers to overflow, flooding streets and leading to the evacuation of several dozen residents.

Initially, four people were reported missing. A woman was later found under rocks and taken to a hospital in Lugano. On Sunday, police confirmed that a man’s body was discovered eight kilometres (five miles) from where he disappeared. Rescue efforts continue for the remaining two missing persons, although police have stated the likelihood of finding them alive is low. The missing individuals were likely at home when floodwaters swept away three houses and three vehicles.

Further west, the alpine resort of Zermatt has been cut off by floodwaters. Dramatic footage from Zermatt, situated at the base of the iconic Matterhorn mountain, showed torrents of water raging through the streets. The Swiss weather service reported that 124 mm (4.88 inches) of rain fell in the area on Friday, most of it within an hour—a concentration of rainfall that happens only once every 30 years.

In response to the flooding, train links between Visp and Zermatt have been suspended, and the road between Täsch and Zermatt has been closed, leaving the resort completely inaccessible. Authorities had prepared for potential overflow by restricting public access to the banks of the Rhône and its offshoot rivers from Friday.