The helicopters have airlifted the tourists who are trapped inside the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt, due to heavy snowfall. More than 13000 tourists were stranded in the upmarket resort.
The local officials have issued warnings about potentially “large and, in many cases, very large dry avalanches …as a result of fresh snow and strong winds.” The premier resort’s website also warned of “possible power breakdowns all over Zermatt.”
The roads leading in and out of resort have been closed by police since Monday morning, while all trains to and from resort were cancelled on Monday night, following the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research increasing the avalanche risk level to the maximum of five.
The hiking and skiing are also prohibited while the avalanche risk is ongoing.
The ski slopes, hiking paths and cable cars around the Swiss village remained closed. It advised the tourists to follow instructions and stay at home so as not to hinder the ongoing clear-up operation.
The electricity in the village had now been restored after an earlier power cut, although the resort continued to warn of “possible power breakdowns all over Zermatt”.
The risk of avalanche risk around Zermatt and several other resorts in the south-western Valais region, including Saas-Fee, was raised to its maximum level of five on Monday night.
