Alps in turmoil: Extreme weather causes chaos and closures
The Alps in France, Italy, and Switzerland are grappling with heavy snowfall and rainfall, which have caused power outages and road closures, including the Mont Blanc tunnel.
The Alps, stretching across France, Italy, and Switzerland, are currently experiencing extreme weather conditions. Heavy snowfall and rainfall have led to power outages for thousands of households and the closure of key roads, including the Mont Blanc tunnel.
The French department of Savoie, popular with skiers, has been marked in orange by Météo-France, indicating very heavy precipitation. Avalanches have occurred in French and Swiss regions. In Val Thorens, an avalanche buried a man who was hospitalised with a heart attack and respiratory arrest, as reported by BFM station.
Italy under water
In Italy, the motorway connecting Turin and the Aosta Valley has been closed due to flooding. In the Aosta Valley, there are power outages, and parks in Milan have been closed due to strong winds reaching speeds of up to 62 mph.
Authorities in Milan warn of difficult weather conditions, drawing attention to the situation in Piedmont, where some towns have been flooded. Italian firefighters reported that a 92-year-old resident of Piedmont died in his flooded home.
Warnings in Switzerland
Swiss authorities recommend that tourists planning a trip to the mountains for Easter should postpone their plans. The newspaper "Walliser Bote" reports that the highest level of weather warning since 2001 has been announced.
MeteoSwiss warns of mudslides and flooding, and the Swiss federal office of meteorology and climatology explains that this phenomenon is the result of a low-pressure system that has brought rainfall of up to 25 inches.
