How to protect people and places from landslides in Switzerland 

The recent landslides in Switzerland caused deaths and extensive damage. Alarm systems and protective barriers can help, but more drastic solutions are being suggested for the growing risk of natural disasters. Homes and communication links destroyed, Alpine communities cut off, at least 12 people killed or missing – that was the consequences of the extreme weather that struck southern Graubünden, Ticino and Valais in the second half of June and early July. Heavy rains filled rivers, resulting in floods. But they also set in motion loose debris on the mountain slopes, which in turn caused landslides of mud, earth and rocks. These so-called debris flows are both highly destructive and hard to predict. “Debris flows are very dangerous because they can throw down huge piles of sediment at high speed,” Brian McArdell, a specialist in mountain hydrology and landslides at the Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) told SWI swissinfo.ch. The following video shows ...