(from CNN news)

Swiss Alps hit by heavy snows, avalanches

Airports, rail lines closed

February 9, 1999 Web posted at: 10:34 a.m. EST (1534 GMT)

ZURICH (Reuters) -- Heavy snow and a threat of avalanches forced Swissauthorities on Tuesday to shut down roads, rail lines and airports in several Alpine ski regions.

The Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche research said more snow was onthe way.

About 50 flights were canceled and delays were reported on Tuesday morning at Zurich Airport, Switzerland's largest, because of the weather. The regional airport in Basel was also closed, the Swiss news agency SDA reported.

Snow claimed the lives of two people in Switzerland late on Sunday when an avalanche swept away the top floor of a cafe on the edge of the village of Wengen near the Alpine resort of Interlaken, killing the owner and his wife.

Local authorities on Monday evacuated 15 nearby homes and a hotel as a precaution in the village in central Switzerland, which hosted World Cup skiing events last month.

(Rudis chalet is luckily outside that "red zone").

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 02-09-99).]