Switzerland Struck with Landslides, Floods

A view of a flood in Chippis, Switzerland, June 21, 2024, in this screengarb obtained from a social media video. X/@ABettmeralp/via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
A view of a flood in Chippis, Switzerland, June 21, 2024, in this screengarb obtained from a social media video. X/@ABettmeralp/via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Switzerland Struck with Landslides, Floods

A view of a flood in Chippis, Switzerland, June 21, 2024, in this screengarb obtained from a social media video. X/@ABettmeralp/via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
A view of a flood in Chippis, Switzerland, June 21, 2024, in this screengarb obtained from a social media video. X/@ABettmeralp/via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Four people died and two were missing in Switzerland on Sunday after violent thunderstorms and melting snow caused flooding and landslides in two southern cantons, police said.

Three of the victims were killed early on Sunday in a landslide in the remote Maggia valley, in the Italian-speaking Alpine canton of Ticino, police said in a statement, Reuters reported.

The three bodies were recovered in the Fontana area of the Maggia valley and they were currently being identified, while another person was missing in the Lavizzara side-arm of the valley, Ticino authorities said.

A bridge downstream of the disaster area in the Maggia valley was submerged, complicating rescue efforts, they added.

One camp site in the valley has been evacuated by helicopter and 300 people at a local soccer tournament would soon also be evacuated by helicopter, police said.

In the southwestern Swiss canton of Valais, police said a man was found dead in a hotel in the Alpine town of Saas-Grund. Police said he was likely surprised by flooding as melting snow compounded violent thunderstorms.

They added that another man was missing in another region in the Valais canton.



Falcon Fetches SAR57,000 at Saudi Falcons Club Auction Opening

The club aims to regulate the falcon trade, protect endangered breeds, and raise awareness about responsible falconry practices. SPA
The club aims to regulate the falcon trade, protect endangered breeds, and raise awareness about responsible falconry practices. SPA
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Falcon Fetches SAR57,000 at Saudi Falcons Club Auction Opening

The club aims to regulate the falcon trade, protect endangered breeds, and raise awareness about responsible falconry practices. SPA
The club aims to regulate the falcon trade, protect endangered breeds, and raise awareness about responsible falconry practices. SPA

A falcon sold for SAR57,000 on Thursday at the opening night of the highly anticipated Saudi Falcons Club Auction in Malham, north of Riyadh.
The event, which will run until November 15, features a groundbreaking new format entailing an auction area integrated into the ongoing International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition.
The Saudi Falcons Club continues to support falconers by offering them comprehensive assistance, including falcon transportation, accommodation, and efficient auction processes. The auction is broadcast live on television and social media platforms, ensuring global reach and accessibility, SPA reported.
Renowned as the Kingdom's premier official falcon auction, the event aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 by promoting cultural heritage, economic growth, and the preservation of falconry traditions.

The Saudi Falcons Club seeks to elevate the standard of falcon auctions domestically and internationally, serving as a focal point for falconry enthusiasts worldwide.