Latest news in Switzerland? September 12th, 2026
12-09-2026
- Fatal Alpine Tour Bus Crash in Grisons: Five people were killed and 40 others injured after a tour bus carrying Dutch visitors overturned and fell into a construction zone near the Alpine village of Susch in eastern Switzerland. Emergency services deployed seven rescue helicopters and over a dozen ambulances, and cantonal police continue their investigation into the cause.
- Upcoming Federal Referendums (September 27): Public debate is intensifying ahead of the national vote scheduled for late September. Swiss citizens will vote on two key federal popular initiatives: the “Neutrality Initiative” (aiming to strictly define Swiss neutrality in the constitution) and the “Food Initiative” (promoting domestic sustainable production and plant-based agriculture).
- Energy Infrastructure Developments: Axpo brought Switzerland’s largest grid-connected battery storage system (58.4 MW) into operation in Gurtnellen, Uri, designed to stabilize frequency fluctuations and support seasonal transition demands.
- Housing Shortage Data: Official figures from the Federal Statistical Office indicate that Switzerland’s residential vacancy rate dropped below 1% (at 0.93%), marking the tightest national housing availability since 2013.
- Infrastructure Maintenance on Key Transit Routes: Planned nighttime closures for annual cleaning and maintenance began along the Gotthard Road Tunnel, diverting overnight trans-Alpine traffic across alternative mountain passes.