Giant mudslide strikes Swiss village

A massive mudslide that struck a Swiss village damaged buildings and vehicles but caused no reported injuries.

The torrent of rock and mud erupted on the streets of Chamoson in the Valais region on Tuesday, frightening residents.

Footage taken by a bystander showed debris shoot up from an overflowing river bed.

The force and height of the rubble appeared to strengthen as the video continued. Screams are heard in the background.

The event, which looked similar to a volcanic lava flow, was sparked by a storm that caused a riverbed to burst its banks.

Local radio station Rhone FM reported some buildings had been evacuated and roads around the village were closed.

In recent months, Valais has experienced extreme weather conditions.

During the winter, snow built up in the mountains before heatwave conditions arrived in the northern summer months.

The higher temperatures are causing pockets of water to be released into local rivers that can become raging torrents.