The major forest fire declared late Monday afternoon in Haut-Valais is still not under control. Response forces are still battling the rapidly spreading fire, police said Monday night.
The inhabitants of the municipality of Ried-Mörel and Oberried, as well as the villages of Fiesch and Obere-Eichen / Bitsch have been evacuated, said the cantonal police in a press release. There are also risks of falling rocks.
Nearly 200 people, including 150 firefighters, are taking part in the extinguishing work, the authorities announced during a press briefing on the spot at the end of the evening. They could not specify the surface on fire, but it is a “major disaster with a significant release of smoke”, according to police spokeswoman Adrienne Bellwald. The wind favored the spread, it was blowing violently in the Rhone Valley. An investigation has been opened.
All night long
Extinguishing work should continue overnight using at least four helicopters from Air Zermatt and another from the Swiss army. At the request of the cantonal authorities, the army indeed sent a Super Puma to Valais which was able to be engaged from 22:00.
A second device should join it on Tuesday, said Stefan Hofer, spokesman for the army at Keystone-ATS. Coordination is the responsibility of the civil authorities.
The Ried-Mörel road has been closed until further notice. After the fire broke out, the flames quickly spread. The inhabitants of the hamlet of Oberried had been asked to go to the assembly point at the town hall of Ried-Mörel and to close doors and windows.
In addition to the firefighters of the surrounding municipalities (Naters, Brig, Riederalp), the police, civil protection and rescuers were mobilized, a police spokeswoman told Keystone-ATS. Police received the report of the fire shortly before 5:00 p.m. The fire was visible far and wide.
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