Geneva - Parts of Switzerland remained on high alert for flooding Thursday after heavy rains brought chaos to much of the country overnight. Rivers burst their banks and others including the Rhine and Rhone were at dangerous levels with more rain forecast.
Flooding and mudslides closed roads and disrupted rail services in the Jura, Berne, Fribourg and Vaud areas.
Up to 80 people were evacuated from three camp sites and a number of houses in Roche close to Villeneuve in Vaud. The main road between Villeneuve and Aigle was cut off.
In the Jura many roads were impassable.
The town of Delemont was completely isolated by floods after the River Birse burst its banks. The rivers Aar in Aargau and the Rhine remained at a critical level.
The railway company SBB/CFF/FFS said the north-east of the country was the worst affected with a number of train services disrupted in cantons Berne, Fribourg and St Gallen.
The Swiss weather service MeteoSuisse said record levels of rain had fallen in 24 hours. Zurich saw the highest amount with more than 97 mm in 24 hours, 87 mm in Delemont, Jura, and 69 mm in Lausanne.
In Basel, 76 mm fell in just fours hours. Spokesman Olivier Codeluppi said more rain was expected today with central Switzerland, Valais, Lake Geneva, southern Jura and Aigle still on the highest alert for rainfall.
