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.

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.

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.

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!

Here in Basel things are pretty normal. There was lots of heat lightning last night (so a big no to seeing the Perseids) and before dark we saw some big thunderhead clouds building but no rain.

Horrible. Poor people who live there. There lives and livelihoods a mess. Hope no one was hurt.

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.

A video of the damage in/around Brienz:
One of the Swiss news channels said repair estimates for Brienz and nearby areas could be around 36 million francs.

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.

Glad you got out okay wildiowa. I hate to see this happen anywhere, let alone in one of my favorite countries.

Tragic. Thanks for the reporting and updates.
Glad you're safe, wildiowa; hoping the rest of you are, too.

Brienz still exists
 

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fe1882a5c0.jpg

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.

Road to Grindelwald yesterday morning
 

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...bd4e222ba2.jpg

This road was reopened yesterday afternoon.

Railway line at Brienz
 

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e2ac627e9e.jpg

Brienz railway station
 

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...17cb4af305.jpg

The sun shines, the weather is fine, everything is open. But there are buses instead of trains.

I'm very glad to hear that. The fact that transportation has been restored (at least in the area around Brienz) seems to be a wonderful testament to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Swiss -- kudos!

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.

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.

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.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0d78ad0d9a.jpg

Thanks for the update neckervd.

To assume this is no biggie and just roll with it is not accurate. We were there and experienced this storm and it's aftermath and it is not business as usual. It is a devastating mess and the continued influx of people and group tours then added to those already there with closed rail lines, rock slides, delayed ferries, people trying to make alternative plans and general mayhem is for real. Major incident. If you are a local resident you do what you need to recover but I can assure you the tourists are displaced, baffled, stacked up, and even more inconvenienced than usual. It will take some time to unwind this.

What a horrible event to have witnessed! I am sure you need time to unwind after this. Perhaps you can find a quieter spot in Switzerland to salvage your vacay.

I am not sure who in this group is in the area but I hope you are all safe and that your homes and businesses haven’t been damaged.

I just realize that many people in this forum don't understand that the Alps are not a Disneyland, but an area in constant move. Why would Switzerland have spent billions of CHF in the last decades in order to make roads and railway lines safer creek and mountaiin river corrections, dams, tunnels, protection galleries, electronic warning systems high in the mountains, at altitudes up to 3500m metres)?

Some decades ago - before a lot of very expensive works werer done - the Loetschental, for example, was closed/isolated almost every winter for 1 week or 2 bcause of avalanches.It was inhabited all the year round neverhteless.
Same remark for Val Bedretto.
The old Furka railway between Oberwald and Andermatt was dismantled every automn and rebuilt in late spring. Otherwise the line would have destroyed by avalanches and flushed into the valley for sure.
A few years ago, a serious earth sslide stoped just a fw metres before the village of Raron (Valais).
The village of Brinzauls (Grauuenden) iss lowly sliding down the hill during decades. Actially, big works are done in order to stop this movement, with no guarantee.
Last year, a big earth slide destroyed parts oif the village of Schwanden (Glarus)
One of the biggest rock avalanches took place a few years ago at Bondo (Graubuenden). The village hat to be evacuated.
Some 20 years ago, a rock avalanche destroyed a part of the village of Taesch (Zermatt).
Some 30 years ago, the whoe city of Brig was under water.
Ss to the inundations of this year, see my psot 17 above.
etc. etc.

Insurance is good. I doubt that dealing with the aftereffects of a disaster is ever easy.

I just realize that many people in this forum don't understand that the Alps are not a Disneyland, but an area in constant move. Why would Switzerland have spent billions of CHF in the last decades in order to make roads and railway lines safer creek and mountaiin river corrections, dams, tunnels, protection galleries, electronic warning systems high in the mountains, at altitudes up to 3500m metres)?

Some decades ago - before a lot of very expensive works werer done - the Loetschental, for example, was closed/isolated almost every winter for 1 week or 2 bcause of avalanches.It was inhabited all the year round neverhteless.
Same remark for Val Bedretto.
The old Furka railway between Oberwald and Andermatt was dismantled every automn and rebuilt in late spring. Otherwise the line would have destroyed by avalanches and flushed into the valley for sure.
A few years ago, a serious earth sslide stoped just a fw metres before the village of Raron (Valais).
The village of Brinzauls (Grauuenden) iss lowly sliding down the hill during decades. Actially, big works are done in order to stop this movement, with no guarantee.
Last year, a big earth slide destroyed parts oif the village of Schwanden (Glarus)
One of the biggest rock avalanches took place a few years ago at Bondo (Graubuenden). The village hat to be evacuated.
Some 20 years ago, a rock avalanche destroyed a part of the village of Taesch (Zermatt).
Some 30 years ago, the whoe city of Brig was under water.
Ss to the inundations of this year, see my psot 17 above.
etc. etc.

Zermatt and Thun
 

Hello,
I'm so sorry to see another terrible disaster has befallen Switzerland. I hope that people are all safe, and recovery will be fairly quick.

We (five adults) are to leave the U.S. on the 24th, flying into Zurich and taking the train (or replacement bus) to Zermatt, spending 4 days in Zermatt, then back to Thun, for a few days, then back to Zurich to fly home.
With this second storm and damage in Brienz, I'm considering changing our plans. I see rain and showers forecast for the next 10 days.

What advice could you offer?

Thanks in advance
J.A.

One of the biggest rock avalanches took place a few years ago at Bondo (Graubuenden). The village hat to be evacuated.

neckervd - I've watched the rebuilding and reconstruction of Bondo over the past few years. It's sobering to realize how vulnerable some of these villages are, yet completely understandable given the terrain. We're all at the mercy of unpredictible weather events and the volatility of the enviroments we live in. I for one, fully appreciate what Switzerland has done and continues to do in order to offset these events and improve accessibility.

Those of us who love and appreciate your country wish the affected residents a full recovery, atlhough I realize it will take months, of not years to get back to 'normal'.

Calabria62 - perhaps take a look at the Engadine instead, assuming you can secure lodging?

Your comment reminds me of work done along the sea to sky highway near vancouver b.c. Nature just swept the anti landslide fortifications away.
very sorry to hear of crop damage, that means higher food prices.

My spouse is on Lake Brienz & Thun at this moment.

Gavemover....and???? Tell us more!!! We got back to the US late last night. We were blessed to have excellent weather and precision connections throughout our trip with the weather brouhaha occurring literally on our last night in Lauterbrunnen. We escaped with minimum impact. As a tourist, my observations were focused on other tourists who were struggling with an Act of God and major natural disaster in the middle of a long vacation in a strange land. As you know most trips are carefully orchestrated and the delicate dance relies on connections, schedules, reservations etc. being coordinated and dependable. All I recall is a large group of people on the train platform in Lauterbrunnen looking totally bewildered as their routes, tickets, reservations and plans were completely blown up and they tried to deal with it carrying many large unwieldy suitcases and a huge language barrier. My partner and I have thankfully evolved although she still insists on one small checked bag...which will go by the wayside next trip. All carry ons. And there were just the two of us. This is what travel is! We were ok, but large groups families and first-timers were really tested. My advice...pack light! Remain flexible! Ya just never know!

To CALABRIA62
Swiss weather forecast for Zermatt:
Cloudy and up to2 mm rain until Sunday,
Rest of the week: dry and sunny, some inoffensive clouds
Temperatures in ceentigrades:
night: 8 - 10 degrees
day: 19 - 22 degres

Thun: similar, but temperatures a bit higher, as Thun is in the plain whereas Zermatt is in the centre of the highest mountains of Switzerland.

Possibile evoluzione da venerdì 23. agosto 2024 a giovedì 29. agosto 2024

La pressione al suolo resta piuttosto livellata. Il tempo sarà abbastanza soleggiato, ma con tendenza a qualche rovescio o temporale soprattutto nella seconda metà della giornata. Temperature massime comprese tra 27 e 30 gradi.

THE TRAINS TO GRINDELWALD RUN AGAIN AS USUAL.

The mayor of BRIENZ said this evening in the Bernese Television that a new serious problem occured:
All foreign tourists cancelled their stay at Brienz. Neither do they visit Brienz in day trips.
That despite the fact that everything there works as normal: hotels, restaurants, shops,wood carving school, wood carving museum, 18th century houses, Lake Brienz boats, Ballenberg Museum.........
Buses to Interlaken (every 30 min), Meiringen (every 30 min), Ballenberg (every 30 min), Axalp (every 2 hrs)........
So, all these things are more or less empty, but the fix costs and the operating costs remain..........

The weather there is actually a bit rainy. Next week it will get fine, with sun and temperatures up to 25 degrees centigrade.

I would be glad if a moderator would eventually publish my retained answer to Calabria

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...084d48e23d.jpg
My host in Brienz answered my inquiry.
My FeWo host .
Brienz Residents are asking that guests NOT cancel their visits and stays. Tourism is a financial mainstay.
The worst flooding was confined to the intersection where the Bahnhof and shipping pier are.
Tremendous cleanup has already occurred.
Boat traffic should be restored by early next week, and train service as well. The road is clear for buses.

It is also reassuring to hear that the bus up to Ballenberg is running normally as well. I believe there is a type of festival/market on the last weekend of September, and we were considering a hike along Axalp Schnitzlerweg to Hintersee.
Of course, we will check with the TI before setting out!

mokka4 I started searching online for news on Brienz since we're staying there in October. What are the chances that we have the same host! I was about to cancel cause the flood looked devastating. Please keep us updated.

Sorry that was one of my first posts and somehow my account got locked up. I still can’t post pictures. But essentially most everything was running that day that my wife was there immediately following that. There were areas that had some heavy damage and the trains all the way up into Grindelwald Were stopped for a little bit, but I think they were pretty much open very quickly thereafter. Essentially my wife had no real problems getting around. She actually is having more problems down by Zermatt.

Sylvia Michel Photography posted update.
This is very frustrating. I really only came here to post this information and again I’m not able to post it. Kind of hamstring by the site.
You can find her update on YouTube. Since I can’t post a link.

I believe this is the link you tried to post:

gavemover - I see that you're new here and have only posted three times. New members must post a certain number of times before they can add links and such. I'm not sure what that number is (maybe 10?) and a quick search to find it has failed due to my impatience. Perhaps another Fodorite knows the magic number.

Welcome to Fodor's.

yaaaas! She’s great! I can’t even reply to your message and quote you. I have to edit out the link in the quote. Lol.