A devastating glacier collapse in the Swiss Alps has buried most of the village of Blatten, leaving one person missing and many homes destroyed. The village’s 300 residents had been evacuated on May 19 after geologists warned of the Birch glacier’s instability. Local authorities describe the situation as “very bad” and have requested support from the Swiss army’s disaster relief unit.
The glacier collapse occurred on Wednesday at approximately 15:30 local time, sending a massive avalanche of ice, mud, and rock crashing into the valley. Drone footage captured the moment the glacier fragment broke off, creating an enormous cloud of dust. Matthias Ebener, a spokesperson in Valais, stated, “An unbelievable amount of material thundered down into the valley”.
This disaster highlights the growing threat of climate change to Alpine communities. Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to melt at an alarming rate, increasing the risk of landslides and flooding. Glaciologists have warned that some Alpine towns and villages are at risk, and Blatten is not the first to be evacuated. In eastern Switzerland, residents of Brienz were evacuated two years ago due to a crumbling mountainside.
The consequences of glacier melting are far-reaching, with predictions suggesting Switzerland’s glaciers could disappear within a century if global temperatures rise above 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Many climate scientists believe this target has already been missed, putting more communities like Blatten at risk.
Related Incidents:
- Brienz Evacuation: Residents were evacuated two years ago due to a crumbling mountainside and have only been permitted to return for short periods.
- Bondo Landslide: In 2017, eight hikers were killed, and many homes destroyed in a massive landslide.
- Climate Change Implications: Rising global temperatures are accelerating glacier thaw, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides.