Tourists Helicoptered Down from Swiss Mountain Resort after Mudslide Cuts off Road Access

Photo: Reuters
Helicopter crews undertook a significant rescue operation on Friday, ferrying down scores of tourists stranded at one of Switzerland’s most renowned mountain resorts. A mudslide had occurred the day before, cutting off road access to the Saas Fee resort in the southern Valais region. The incident has highlighted the increasing impact of climate change on Switzerland’s picturesque landscapes. Teams from the Air Zermatt rescue and helicopter service led the operation, transporting approximately 2,200 tourists—primarily Swiss nationals—down from the resort. This large-scale evacuation was necessitated by the mudslide, which had rendered the main access roads impassable. The Valais authorities reported that heavy downpours overnight between Wednesday and Thursday caused several rivers in the Saas Valley to overflow, particularly affecting the area between the towns of Stalden and Saas-Balen.

















