THIS is the horrific moment devastating floods devastated homes and triggered a terrifying landslide in Switzerland.
Rescue teams are now in a desperate search for three people missing after violent storms and torrential rain hit the southeast of the country.
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Shocking images show what were once picturesque Swiss villages now completely devastated by destruction as homes and cars were swept away by water.
Dramatic clips also showed the small river that runs through Zermatt turning into a muddy torrent, partially submerging the streets of the popular ski resort.
Rivers overflowed, covering fields, roads and settlements with debris, wood and earth.
In the village of Sorte, floods destroyed three houses and three cars, according to Grisons police.
The car in which two police officers were trapped was completely submerged, but they managed to escape.
Emergency services in the canton of Valais were on high alert due to levels on the River Rhône, which peaked on Saturday.
Authorities evacuated 230 residents on Saturday, with the municipality of Chippis being particularly affected, as it is located on the left bank of the Rhône.
A woman was pulled out alive after being buried by a landslide in the Misox alpine valley in Grisons.
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But the other three have not yet been found.
Rescue teams searched throughout Saturday with helicopters and drones after the rockslide hit several homes in the municipality of Lostallo.
Excavators and search dogs were also used in the task force.
William Kloter of the Swiss police, who is leading the rescue operations, told local media that he hoped to find the three missing people alive.
Authorities warned residents to avoid the lowest parts of their homes, including basements, stay away from flooded rivers and not park on bridges.
People were also advised against filming or photographing the floods for safety reasons.
Swiss President Viola Amherd said she was shocked by the scale of the damage.
“My thoughts are with those affected. I thank emergency personnel for their tireless efforts in this difficult situation,” Amherd said on X.
MeteoSchweiz, the government’s office for climate and weather, said almost 13 centimeters of rain had fallen in the Mesolcina Valley, with a shocking 2.48 centimeters falling in just one hour.
An agency spokesperson said: “It was not the level of rainfall but the concentration of the rain over such a short period of time that caused the problems.
“This concentration of rain only happens once every 30 years.”
The Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway announced on Saturday evening that it would resume operations between Zermatt and the village of Täsch, where buses would be available for onward transport.
Zermatt, in the southern canton of Valais, close to the iconic Matterhorn mountain, was cut off from the outside world on Friday and Saturday after heavy rain and melting snow caused the Mattervispa river to overflow its banks.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
