Devastation in Bern's old town

By Imogen Foulkes
BBC News, Bern

One of the areas badly hit by the floods in Switzerland is Matte, in the capital's historic old town.

Containing hundreds of 17th- and 18th-Century houses, Bern's old town - surrounded on three sides by the River Aare - is classed as a Unesco heritage site. Hundreds of people have had to be evacuated.

Matte is residential but also has waterside cafes and clubs

When the rains started at the weekend, the river levels rose, but at first not dramatically.

Although the Matte district is at water level - and has a canal carrying water from the River Aare through it - resident Esther Friedli was not initially concerned.

"Actually I had visitors on Sunday evening," she said. "And I knew the river was a bit high, but I didn't think anything of it."

At 10pm, Esther changed her mind when she saw that her cellar was beginning to flood.

"We spent all night pumping out water," she explained, "and trying to save our possessions."

"It was a fight with the water, but at five in the morning we knew we had lost the fight."

When she left her house, Esther ran, so fast she did not think to take anything except what she stood up in.

"I was in shock," she said. "I didn't realise I'd forgotten even a toothbrush until hours later."

Hidden dangers

Other residents of Matte - also a favourite spot for all Bernese with its waterside cafes and music clubs - did not follow Esther's example.

Unwilling to abandon their homes, they simply climbed to higher floors and thought they would wait out the flooding.

It could be some time before Matte residents can return home

But when the waters continued to rise, the emergency services decided to evacuate the entire area.

By this time the floods were flowing so fast - and were so full of hidden dangers, such as cars, and pieces of concrete - that it was not safe to use boats for the rescue.

So, for 48 hours, helicopters flew back and forth over the city, plucking people to safety.

Five days later, Esther and hundreds of other residents of Matte are still unable to go home.

The water has receded a little bit, but it is choked with wood and mud washed down by the flooding.

Water surge fears

Barbara Hayoz, chief of Bern's emergency services, says no one will be able to return for many days yet.

"It's not at all safe," she explained. "These houses are very old, and some of them may have been structurally damaged."

What is more, the authorities fear that Bern could be due another water surge.

Upriver, tons of uprooted trees are holding back some of the flooding. When that is removed, the water will flow downstream to the city.

"I really want to go home as soon as possible," Esther says.

"But at the same time I'm frightened about what I'll find there. I have to go back and see the destruction, and then I'll realise what I've lost."