BLATTEN, SWITZERLAND – A massive section of a glacier collapsed in the Swiss Alps on Wednesday, unleashing a torrent of ice, rock, and mud that buried nearly all of the evacuated village of Blatten. The incident, described as one of Switzerland’s largest recorded mass movements, has left one person missing and the community reeling from extensive destruction.
Key Facts:
- Village Devastated: Approximately 90% of Blatten, a village in the Valais Canton, was submerged under debris following the collapse of the Birch Glacier.
- Evacuation Credited: The village’s roughly 300 residents had been evacuated nine days prior, a decision that prevented a catastrophic loss of life.
- Missing Person and Aftermath: One 64-year-old resident is reported missing, and authorities are assessing the widespread damage, which is expected to take years to recover from.
The collapse, triggered by high-altitude snowmelt, registered as a 3.1-magnitude earthquake, underscoring the immense force of the event.
What Happened in Blatten?
For weeks, the Birch Glacier, located high above Blatten in the Lötschental Valley, had been deemed unstable. Authorities had closely monitored its accelerating movement, which was estimated to be between eight and eleven feet per day towards the valley. This alarming pace prompted the preemptive evacuation of the village’s residents and even livestock, including 52 cattle, sheep, and domestic rabbits, some of which were airlifted to safety.
On Wednesday afternoon, the anticipated collapse occurred. An estimated 3 million cubic meters of ice, rock, and mud, equivalent to about nine million tons of debris, thundered down the mountainside, creating a massive plume of dust and engulfing Blatten.
How Bad is the Damage?
The scale of destruction in Blatten is immense. Stéphane Ganzer, a councillor for the province of Valais, confirmed that around 90% of the village was buried. Aerial footage and ground assessments reveal homes and buildings partially submerged under a thick layer of brownish sludge. Blatten Mayor Matthias Bellwald, in an emotional news conference, stated, “We have lost our village,” and appealed for assistance to rebuild. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter expressed her sympathy on social media, acknowledging the “terrible” loss for the people of Blatten.
What are the Ongoing Concerns?
Beyond the immediate devastation, officials have warned of further risks. The landslide has blocked the nearby Lonza River bed, raising the significant possibility of ice jams and subsequent flooding. The army has been mobilized to assist with debris removal and to deploy pumps to mitigate potential flood risks. Authorities are not ruling out additional evacuations if the situation worsens. The main road connecting Blatten with the nearby village of Goppenstein remains closed to all but essential traffic.
