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.



Saudi Arabia Sets World Record with Largest Food Cluster

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef attends the ceremony to launch Jeddah Food Cluster. SPA
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef attends the ceremony to launch Jeddah Food Cluster. SPA
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Saudi Arabia Sets World Record with Largest Food Cluster

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef attends the ceremony to launch Jeddah Food Cluster. SPA
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef attends the ceremony to launch Jeddah Food Cluster. SPA

Saudi Arabia has set a Guinness World Record for the largest food park in the world by area with the Jeddah Food Cluster, which spans over 11 million square meters and has set a new global benchmark.

Spanning 11 million square meters, the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) announced ambitious plans for the cluster, targeting investments of up to SAR20 billion and creating 43,000 job opportunities by 2035. The cluster aims to stimulate economic growth, enhance food security, and support national exports.
Over the next decade, the Jeddah Food Cluster is projected to contribute SAR8 billion to national exports and add SAR7 billion to the GDP. MODON will achieve this by investing in advanced infrastructure, shared services, and innovative solutions.
By integrating services and optimizing supply chains, the cluster aims to reduce operational costs by 5-12%. This will not only benefit businesses but also contribute to strengthening national food security and self-sufficiency in essential commodities.