Heat record in Basel and army deployment for Swiss agriculture
Switzerland is currently experiencing an extreme heatwave. In Basel-Binningen in particular, temperatures of 38.7 degrees were measured in the afternoon. According to MeteoSwiss, this is a new temperature record for the current month at this location.
The persistent heat and drought are leading to an acute water shortage in many mountain regions. As natural springs in the Alps are drying up, the supply for livestock is at risk. Many farmers are therefore dependent on external help to continue providing their animals with sufficient drinking water.
To support the affected farms, the Swiss Armed Forces have launched a relief operation. Using a Super Puma helicopter, soldiers transported a total of 14,000 liters of water directly to an Alp in the Bernese region. The helicopter deployment is necessary because the remote pastures are often inaccessible to tanker trucks by land.
Weather services expect high temperatures to continue in the coming days. The authorities are calling on the population to be cautious, to drink plenty of water, and to avoid direct physical exertion in the midday sun.