Lauterbrunnen is a mess
Aug 13th, 2024, 02:25 AM
#1
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Lauterbrunnen is a mess
Huge, extraordinary storms last night. Power was out in the entire town for an extended time. Most trains delayed. Platforms a total mess. Not certain of the impact over next few days fortunately we are heading home today and did most of the things we planned to do. Infrastructure was already stressed with too many people before this occurred....check to see how your plans might be affected.
Aug 13th, 2024, 05:34 AM
#2
I'm glad to hear your plans weren't affected; I hope you had a good time. Are you able to get out?
Switzerland has had more than it's share of weather related issues this year.
Your post prompted me to Google; there's some footage showing flooding in Brienz; it's devastating.
On Monday evening, several severe storms hit Switzerland. The Bernese Oberland was particularly affected. A landslide occurred in Brienz. People had to be evacuated and several people were injured. Axenstrasse is closed in central Switzerland. Torrential rain, heavy hail, waterlogged rails, strong currents crossing the railway line, roads blocked by falling debris and impassable: On Monday evening, a severe storm hit the Bernese Oberland. The Lauterbrunnen Valley was no longer passable and Grindelwald was cut off from the environment.
Switzerland has had more than it's share of weather related issues this year.
Your post prompted me to Google; there's some footage showing flooding in Brienz; it's devastating.
On Monday evening, several severe storms hit Switzerland. The Bernese Oberland was particularly affected. A landslide occurred in Brienz. People had to be evacuated and several people were injured. Axenstrasse is closed in central Switzerland. Torrential rain, heavy hail, waterlogged rails, strong currents crossing the railway line, roads blocked by falling debris and impassable: On Monday evening, a severe storm hit the Bernese Oberland. The Lauterbrunnen Valley was no longer passable and Grindelwald was cut off from the environment.
Last edited by Melnq8; Aug 13th, 2024 at 05:52 AM.
Aug 13th, 2024, 05:51 AM
#3
Found this on TA, posted by a resident of Switzerland:
Torrential rain, heavy hailstorms, flooded railway tracks, torrents over railway lines, roads covered by falling debris and no longer passable: A severe storm swept across the Bernese Oberland on Monday evening.
In Brienz, 70 people had to be evacuated from their homes to a gymnasium. Two people suffered minor to moderate injuries, as reported by the regional command organisation Oberer Brienzersee (RFO) on Tuesday morning. According to the statement, no people are missing.
Buildings, parked vehicles, roads and public transport infrastructure were damaged by a debris flow on Monday evening. At around 6.30 pm, the Milibach burst its banks in Brienz. A collector above the village was overfilled by chunks of stone and wood. The material flowed uncontrollably into various parts of the village in the Bernese Oberland municipality. For safety reasons, the RFO recommended boiling the drinking water.
Rail and boat connections to and from Brienz remain interrupted.
Replacement buses are in operation. The road through Brienz is also closed in both directions. The Brienz Änderdorf area is also closed until further notice due to the ongoing danger.
At first light, a specialist will assess the situation on site. The RFO will then decide how to proceed.
Grindelwald cut off from the environment
The Lauterbrunnen Valley was no longer passable and Grindelwald was cut off from the outside world. Shortly before midnight, the Bern cantonal police reported on X that several people had suffered minor injuries as a result of the storm. Numerous people also had to be evacuated.
Rescue services and regional command centres were deployed. The emergency call centres are overloaded.
Interrupted routes
The cantonal road between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald is closed until further notice, according to the cantonal building and transport directorate. The reason since a debris flow. Many transport routes were interrupted in the evening and during the night, including the Meiringen-Interlaken Ost line, according to Railinfo SBB. There were also no trains running between Spiez and Interlaken Ost due to damage.
According to police reports on X, the A8 motorway between Brienzwiler and Gnoll was also closed in both directions in the evening. This was due to fallen trees. The police closed the main roads between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald, Kandersteg and Frutigen and between Bönigen and Iseltwald.
Memories of 2005 come flooding back
Eyewitnesses report violent thunderstorms and a hailstorm on "20 Minuten". "I have never experienced such a strong thunderstorm", reports a reader from Leissigen. There was also a violent thunderstorm cell in Saanen.
In Brienz, the water rose over the railway line and the quay was flooded and devastated. A car was swept away by the masses of water. There is currently no information on damage or injuries.
An editor travelling from Interlaken towards Brienz was instructed by the fire brigade to turn back at Oberried. The scenes are reminiscent of the storm in 2005.
Wood washed into Lake Thun
In Leissigen, the village stream washed wood into Lake Thun. In Därligen, the railway track is partially flooded with water and covered with debris.
There is also considerable damage around Thun. A tree fell onto the road in Gwatt.
The operations centre in Thun was unable to provide any further information on the situation in the Bernese Oberland when asked late on Monday evening. They were currently busy with emergency calls, they said. The media centre could no longer be reached.
Rockfall at Lake Uri
Heavy thunderstorms also caused damage in other parts of Switzerland. A rockfall threatened the Axenstrasse on Lake Uri between Flüelen and Sisikon in the canton of Uri. The main road was closed in the area from 8 p.m., as the police and the Federal Roads Office announced on the Alertsuisse alarm app.
Under no circumstances should anyone enter the rockfall area, the press release continued. Road users should avoid the area via the Seelisberg tunnel on the A2 motorway and Lucerne.
According to the canton of Uri, the section of road was closed after the monitoring systems in the "Gumpisch" area indicated movements in the terrain. Stones landed in the safety nets. Vehicles on the Axenstrasse had to turn round.
Nobody was injured. The road and the bridge there were not damaged. Experts will assess the situation once the weather has calmed down. The canton could not rule out further rockfalls due to the weather conditions. The Axenstrasse is an important feeder route to the A2 motorway and thus towards the Gotthard road tunnel.
The thunderstorms had been forecast, but according to Meteonews it was difficult to say in advance exactly where they would develop. The thunderstorm reached the Zurich region at around 9 pm. According to "20 Minuten", Zurich Airport had to issue a "handling stop" due to the thunderstorm. This meant that no planes could take off for the time being.
Torrential rain, heavy hailstorms, flooded railway tracks, torrents over railway lines, roads covered by falling debris and no longer passable: A severe storm swept across the Bernese Oberland on Monday evening.
In Brienz, 70 people had to be evacuated from their homes to a gymnasium. Two people suffered minor to moderate injuries, as reported by the regional command organisation Oberer Brienzersee (RFO) on Tuesday morning. According to the statement, no people are missing.
Buildings, parked vehicles, roads and public transport infrastructure were damaged by a debris flow on Monday evening. At around 6.30 pm, the Milibach burst its banks in Brienz. A collector above the village was overfilled by chunks of stone and wood. The material flowed uncontrollably into various parts of the village in the Bernese Oberland municipality. For safety reasons, the RFO recommended boiling the drinking water.
Rail and boat connections to and from Brienz remain interrupted.
Replacement buses are in operation. The road through Brienz is also closed in both directions. The Brienz Änderdorf area is also closed until further notice due to the ongoing danger.
At first light, a specialist will assess the situation on site. The RFO will then decide how to proceed.
Grindelwald cut off from the environment
The Lauterbrunnen Valley was no longer passable and Grindelwald was cut off from the outside world. Shortly before midnight, the Bern cantonal police reported on X that several people had suffered minor injuries as a result of the storm. Numerous people also had to be evacuated.
Rescue services and regional command centres were deployed. The emergency call centres are overloaded.
Interrupted routes
The cantonal road between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald is closed until further notice, according to the cantonal building and transport directorate. The reason since a debris flow. Many transport routes were interrupted in the evening and during the night, including the Meiringen-Interlaken Ost line, according to Railinfo SBB. There were also no trains running between Spiez and Interlaken Ost due to damage.
According to police reports on X, the A8 motorway between Brienzwiler and Gnoll was also closed in both directions in the evening. This was due to fallen trees. The police closed the main roads between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald, Kandersteg and Frutigen and between Bönigen and Iseltwald.
Memories of 2005 come flooding back
Eyewitnesses report violent thunderstorms and a hailstorm on "20 Minuten". "I have never experienced such a strong thunderstorm", reports a reader from Leissigen. There was also a violent thunderstorm cell in Saanen.
In Brienz, the water rose over the railway line and the quay was flooded and devastated. A car was swept away by the masses of water. There is currently no information on damage or injuries.
An editor travelling from Interlaken towards Brienz was instructed by the fire brigade to turn back at Oberried. The scenes are reminiscent of the storm in 2005.
Wood washed into Lake Thun
In Leissigen, the village stream washed wood into Lake Thun. In Därligen, the railway track is partially flooded with water and covered with debris.
There is also considerable damage around Thun. A tree fell onto the road in Gwatt.
The operations centre in Thun was unable to provide any further information on the situation in the Bernese Oberland when asked late on Monday evening. They were currently busy with emergency calls, they said. The media centre could no longer be reached.
Rockfall at Lake Uri
Heavy thunderstorms also caused damage in other parts of Switzerland. A rockfall threatened the Axenstrasse on Lake Uri between Flüelen and Sisikon in the canton of Uri. The main road was closed in the area from 8 p.m., as the police and the Federal Roads Office announced on the Alertsuisse alarm app.
Under no circumstances should anyone enter the rockfall area, the press release continued. Road users should avoid the area via the Seelisberg tunnel on the A2 motorway and Lucerne.
According to the canton of Uri, the section of road was closed after the monitoring systems in the "Gumpisch" area indicated movements in the terrain. Stones landed in the safety nets. Vehicles on the Axenstrasse had to turn round.
Nobody was injured. The road and the bridge there were not damaged. Experts will assess the situation once the weather has calmed down. The canton could not rule out further rockfalls due to the weather conditions. The Axenstrasse is an important feeder route to the A2 motorway and thus towards the Gotthard road tunnel.
The thunderstorms had been forecast, but according to Meteonews it was difficult to say in advance exactly where they would develop. The thunderstorm reached the Zurich region at around 9 pm. According to "20 Minuten", Zurich Airport had to issue a "handling stop" due to the thunderstorm. This meant that no planes could take off for the time being.
Last edited by Melnq8; Aug 13th, 2024 at 05:53 AM.
Aug 13th, 2024, 06:19 AM
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We just arrived in Zurich from Lauterbrunnen. Chaos on rail lines and platforms as people are diverted there, plus the normal tourists trying to maintain their schedules and plans. Heaviest tourist weeks!! From Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost many trees are down on power lines with crews repairing damage. The cornfields are stripped and blown down by hard winds and hail. Much crop damage. We just went to Brienz yesterday the day of the storm via boat and cannot believe what you are relating, only a few hours earlier we were sitting on the dock enjoying a beautiful sunny day and calm water on the lake. Unbelievable. We are from Iowa and are used to damaging storms and have our own generator. To see this here, and having only narrowly escaped to meet our plane tomorrow morning, is just hard to believe. With so many people from far away countries who never come close to experiencing such weather in the region is madness. Many plans will be dashed, many reservations will be missed, many people will be totally freaked out with massive inconvenience. To quote Blue Oyster Cult....history proves again and again, how nature points out the folly of man....GODZILLA!
Aug 13th, 2024, 11:59 AM
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I just repeat what I posted 7 hrs ago:
Jungfrau area timetable changesThe railway lines Interlaken - Brienz and Interlaken - Grindelwald are actually closed.
Brienz and Meiringen can be reached by buses running in the same timetable as the trains.
Grindelwald can be reached from Interlaken via Lauterbrunnen - Wengen - Maennliichen or from Meiiungen via Grosse Scheidegg.
The trains between Grindelwald and Zweiluetschinen are now replaced by buses until August 16th
Buses instead of trains between Interlaken Ost and Meiringen until August 25th.The trains etween Bern and Interlaken and berween Lucerne and Meiringen run as usual.
Jungfrau area timetable changesThe railway lines Interlaken - Brienz and Interlaken - Grindelwald are actually closed.
Brienz and Meiringen can be reached by buses running in the same timetable as the trains.
Grindelwald can be reached from Interlaken via Lauterbrunnen - Wengen - Maennliichen or from Meiiungen via Grosse Scheidegg.
The trains between Grindelwald and Zweiluetschinen are now replaced by buses until August 16th
Buses instead of trains between Interlaken Ost and Meiringen until August 25th.The trains etween Bern and Interlaken and berween Lucerne and Meiringen run as usual.
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Aug 13th, 2024, 01:36 PM
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So sad.
There was the flooding in Germany and parts of Switzerland in early June. Then the floods and slides at the end of June that cut off Zermatt and closed the A13 in June.
I was lucky that I was leaving just after they were able to operate after the flooding in the basement of the Geneva airport control center,
Now this.
There was the flooding in Germany and parts of Switzerland in early June. Then the floods and slides at the end of June that cut off Zermatt and closed the A13 in June.
I was lucky that I was leaving just after they were able to operate after the flooding in the basement of the Geneva airport control center,
Now this.
Aug 13th, 2024, 11:40 PM
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Brienz still exists
Brinez can be reached by bus wihout any problem.The boat pier however, is closed. Boats run from Interlaken up to Giessbach and back. The Brienzer Rothorn railway remains closed.
Aug 14th, 2024, 12:18 AM
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But is that the whole story? Were no people hurt? Were no people left without homes, or without homes in which they could actually live? Was no one's livelihood compromised? What about other areas that were affected?
I'm sorry to say that I don't find your reassurances very reassuring.
Aug 14th, 2024, 12:28 AM
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Kay2 is right: the real ctastrophe in the Allps this year was not the thunderstorm of last weekend (note that it's by far not the first time that the Mill Creek caused inundations at Brienz), but the earthslides and inundations in June which touched
Cogne, Valnontay, Alagna Valsesia, Lourtier (all isolted without electricity during several days),
the Zermatt railway lline (the repairs will last months),
Zermatt (accessible only from Italy during several days)
Saas Grund (parts of the village under water),
Sierre/Siders (motorway and industrial zone flooded),
Lostallo: road and motorway flushed away by the water of a mountain creek
Piano di Peccia: destroyed by a avalanche,
Lavizzara Valley (5 villages), completely isolated because the Maggia river flushed away the only road bridge (and part of the road),
etc. etc.
Cogne, Valnontay, Alagna Valsesia, Lourtier (all isolted without electricity during several days),
the Zermatt railway lline (the repairs will last months),
Zermatt (accessible only from Italy during several days)
Saas Grund (parts of the village under water),
Sierre/Siders (motorway and industrial zone flooded),
Lostallo: road and motorway flushed away by the water of a mountain creek
Piano di Peccia: destroyed by a avalanche,
Lavizzara Valley (5 villages), completely isolated because the Maggia river flushed away the only road bridge (and part of the road),
etc. etc.
Aug 14th, 2024, 12:56 AM
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To kja:
May be you don't know that the insurance of real estate is compulsory in Switzerland.
So, there will be no financial problems.
But of course, it's never pleasant to clean a house full of hardened mud, to repair a lot of things and to realize that a lot of other things are completely destroyed.
Accommodation is usually not a problem in these villages where everyone knows everyone and where the houses are often big enough in order to accommodate friends or relatives.
The mountain creeks above Brienz are dangerous. Note that the population of Brienz lives siince ever with these dangers.See below a image of he devastations in 2005. In the meantime, there were done works ror 50 million CHF in odreder to improve te situation. That was obviously not enough.
May be you don't know that the insurance of real estate is compulsory in Switzerland.
So, there will be no financial problems.
But of course, it's never pleasant to clean a house full of hardened mud, to repair a lot of things and to realize that a lot of other things are completely destroyed.
Accommodation is usually not a problem in these villages where everyone knows everyone and where the houses are often big enough in order to accommodate friends or relatives.
The mountain creeks above Brienz are dangerous. Note that the population of Brienz lives siince ever with these dangers.See below a image of he devastations in 2005. In the meantime, there were done works ror 50 million CHF in odreder to improve te situation. That was obviously not enough.
