Swiss resort of Zermatt temporarily cut off after rockfall

Road and railway access to the mountain resort of Zermatt were cut off between Monday evening and Tuesday following a rockfall.

The rockfall took place at 7.30pm on Monday evening between the villages of Randa and Herbriggen, four kilometres south of Zermatt. The access road was closed, and train services were halted. No one was hurt.

The section of road affected reopened at 11am on Tuesday morning. The train line, which had been hit over a 20-30-metre stretch between St. Nicolas and Randa, was closed until 4.15pm on Tuesday. Bus services replaced trains during the closure.

Zermatt is regularly affected by natural forces. Last month, parts of the resort were flooded after a stream burst its bank due to a pocket of meltwater from the glacier above. The biggest crisis occurred last winter when tourists were stranded for four days after transport links were severed following avalanches, heavy snow and rockfalls.

SDA-Keystone/ac