GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Rail traffic to Zermatt was closed Tuesday morning 4 March until 10:00 following an avalanche between Taesch and the resort. The avalanche went off spontaneously at about 02:00, say Valais police.

The road to Zermatt was closed Tuesday morning and has been re-opened only partially for people with permits while the area is cleared.

Police have not given a time for the re-opening of the road.

The road was rebuilt and re-directed to a safer area about 20 years ago after a major avalanche covered it with tons of debris.