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Ticino: Flooded campsite, uprooted trees: thunderstorms have struck
Thursday evening, a series of violent thunderstorms touched Ticino, causing floods, the fall of trees, as well as material damage.
Thunderstorms accompanied by strong precipitation and gusts of wind fell on Thursday evening, in several regions of the canton of Ticino, notably Bellinzone, Luganese, Mendrisiotto and Locarnese. Météosuisse had placed these areas in alert level 4 of 5, warning possible landslides and floods.
Agno campsite les feet in the water
On the shores of Lac de Lugano, the TCS campsite in Agno was not spared. Photos show totally flooded plots. A vacationer, witness to the scene, says: “We were manging down when the rain started. It quickly became a deluge. The wind was so strong that it uprooted certain awnings and even tents. ” Despite the extent of the episode, no one would have been injured on the spot.
Destructive gusts in Canobbio
During the night of Thursday to Friday, new precipitation accompanied by strong gusts have still shaken the region. In Canobbio, on the heights of Lugano, the wooded area surrounding the Trevano technical and professional training center has been devastated. Several trees have been literally uprooted or broken in half, some even taking with them the concrete slabs of the neighboring parking lot. “Practically the whole forest has disappeared,” two readers reported to our colleagues in “TIO”, by sending photos showing the extent of the damage.
Up to 60 mm of rain per hour
According to Météosuisse, a significant stormy activity was observed at 6.30 p.m. in the region. Precipitation has sometimes exceeded 60 millimeters per hour. The conditions should however improve during the day of Friday, with the gradual return of dry and partially sunny time.