Natural disasters –
Floods have changed the management of natural dangers in Switzerland
The devastating floods of August 2005 caused almost 3 billion damage. In Lucerne, we are now betting on multiple approaches beyond simple dikes.
One of the latest mobile flood protection dike systems was set up by firefighters by the Reuss in Lucerne in June 2022.
KEYSTONE/Urs Flueeler
The serious floods that have occurred twenty years ago have changed the way of managing natural dangers. With 590 million francs in damage, the canton of Lucerne was one of the most affected by the bad weather that hit Switzerland in August 2005.
Building dikes and walls is no longer enough, Viktor Schmidiger, head of the natural dangers department of the canton of Lucerne said on Monday. Spatial planning measures and natural measures have gained importance to minimize risks but collaboration with the protection of the population is also necessary.
Residents of a district of Giswil, on the shore of Lake Sarnen (Obwald), joined their home by boat during the 2023 floods.
KEYSTONE/Urs Flueeler
The areas along the Reuss and the little one was very affected. Since then, 100 million francs have been invested in flood protection along the little Emme. The Reuss project is blocked by oppositions.
The bad weather of August 21 and 22, 2005 had made seven victims and for 3 billion francs in damage. Zones in cities of Lucerne, Bern, Sarnen and Engelberg (OW) had found themselves underwater.
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