While holiday makers in Switzerland are enjoying the current hot spell, the environment is feeling the heat in the form of below-average water levels and a high risk of forest fire. St Gallen in northeastern Switzerland on Tuesday became the latest canton to ban making fires in or near forests. Several cantons imposed such a ban last week, but rain over the weekend hasn’t eased the situation in eastern Switzerland. The authorities in canton Thurgau said they had seen only a few drops, justifying a ban that will come into effect on Friday. They added that the exceptionally dry spell for this time of year required special measures, saying the topsoil in forests, meadows and fields was very dry, trees were showing symptoms of stress, with discoloured leaves and fruit having to be thrown away. On Tuesday, St Gallen also imposed a total ban on fireworks on August 1, Swiss National Day. Thurgau had already done this. Water shortages The public has also been called on to save ...
