The authorities of the canton of Valais provided an update on the bad weather situation on Sunday at 2 p.m.
They communicate the death of one man and the disappearance of another.
Early in the morning of Sunday June 30, a man was found dead in a hotel in Saas-Grund, after his partner reported him missing. The first elements of the investigation suggest that the man was probably surprised by the rapid rise in water, she “was buried in the rubble of a building”, indicates Béatrice Pilloud, general prosecutor of the canton of Valais. The formal identification of the victim is underway.
Since Saturday evening, a 52-year-old Swiss man has been missing in the “Heiligkreuz” region, in the municipality of Binn. Research is currently underway. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the canton of Valais has opened an investigation in the context of these two cases, specifies the press release.
This weekend’s storms, combined with melting snow and waterlogged ground, have caused a significant and rapid rise in lateral watercourses and the Rhone. This has resulted in flooding and debris flows as well as numerous road closures throughout the Valais region.
For the President of the Council of State, Frédéric Favre, “the situation in Lower Valais is impressive, but in Saas-Grund, it is dramatic.”
The situation remains tense until further notice, authorities say.
