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December 3, 2001 - Court Looks Into Disaster Which Killed Twenty-one in Swiss Canyon

The trial of eight people accused of responsibility for 21 deaths in a canyoning disaster in Switzerland two years ago opened in an Interlaken court on Monday.

Eight employees and executives of the Adventure World travel company, which has since gone bankrupt, face charges of manslaughter by negligence for having organized the canyoning trip in hills in central Switzerland despite receiving warnings of inclement weather.

They are also accused of mistakes in training and supervision.

During a canyoning tour on July 27, 1999, a 53-member group was hit by a two-metre-high wall of water unleashed when a natural log jam upstream gave way in a thunderstorm.

The 21 victims, aged between 19 and 32, came from Australia, New Zealand, Britain, South Africa and Switzerland.

The 32 survivors were able to escape the raging torrent and mud and rock slides without external help.

Among those attending the court proceedings are 14 relatives of victims.

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