Switzerland calls up army to help flood-hit towns

BERN, Switzerland — AP October 11, 2011 11:51 AM EDT
Authorities in Switzerland have called in the army to help evacuate people and livestock from villages cut off by heavy flooding in the Alps.

Workers walk on a destroyed road between Frutigen and Kandersteg in the Canton of Berne a day after severe flooding following heavy rainfall, in Mitholz, in the Kander valley, Switzerland, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. Road and rail service between Frutigen and Kandersteg have been disrupted. (AP Photo/Keystone, Peter Schneider) GERMANY OUT – AUSTRIA OUT

Workers walk on a destroyed road between Frutigen and Kandersteg in the Canton of Berne a day after severe flooding following heavy rainfall, in Mitholz, in the Kander valley, Switzerland, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. Road and rail service between Frutigen and Kandersteg have been disrupted. (AP Photo/Keystone, Peter Schneider) GERMANY OUT – AUSTRIA OUT

Workers walk on a destroyed road between Frutigen and Kandersteg in the Canton of Berne a day after severe flooding following heavy rainfall, in Mitholz, in the Kander valley, Switzerland, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. Road and rail service between Frutigen and Kandersteg have been disrupted. It says army helicopters are being used to airlift animals and inhabitants from the isolated Gastern Valley.

Days of heavy rain have swelled Alpine streams to record levels, causing landslides and washed away roads.

The floods are estimated to have caused millions of Swiss francs (dollars) worth of damage, but so far there have been no reports of fatalities.

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