Torrential rain has triggered landslides and extensive flooding in central Switzerland.

• Wintry weekend warning for Swiss Alps (31 Aug 12)
• 2011: Switzerland's hottest year on record (21 Dec 11)
• Switzerland hit by major flooding (11 Oct 11)

The cantons of Schwyz, Glaris, Zug and Saint Gallen were the hardest hit, with some areas receiving more rain in the last two days than the average for all of October, the ATS news service reported.

The most precipitation was recorded in Amden-Arvenbüel in the canton of Saint Gallen where 126 litres of rain per square metre of ground fell, Meteomedia said on Wednesday.

Streams overflowed their banks, basements flooded and rocks and mud slid down slopes.

Schwyz cantonal police said they received 20 calls for help over flooding in homes and roads made impassable.

A landslide cut off a highway in Siebnen, a community in the canton of Schwyz.
 
Members of the fire department in Zug responded to 30 cases of flooded buildings and roads.

A video posted on the 20 Minutes website showed a road in Ettingen, in the canton of Basel country, transformed into a river of muddy water.

The rain tapered off in most parts of Switzerland on Tuesday at around 9.30 pm.

But MeteoSwiss, the national weather office, said mild and wet conditions would continue through Wednesday with a break on Thursday before more rain is expected to pelt the country on Friday.

Meanwhile, high water levels in the River Rhine have forced authorities to suspend shipping of cargo along a  20-kilometre stretch.

Transport by barges between Basel and Kembs is off limits until further notice, the Port of Switzerland announced on Wednesday.