The village of Blatten in Switzerland was struck by a calamitous landslide on Wednesday, caused by a massive break from the Birch Glacier. This event buried around 90% of the village and has left at least one person unaccounted for, according to local authorities.
Describing the situation, Matthias Ebener, a spokesperson for the crisis management team, confirmed that the once tranquil village was now entombed under debris of mud, ice, and rocks. Drone footage captured the dramatic moment of the glacier's collapse, releasing a towering plume of dust that swallowed the landscape below.
Residents had been evacuated nine days prior to the disaster, as the glacier, heavily laden with approximately nine million tons of debris, was reported to be moving dangerously at a speed of eight to 11 feet daily toward the valley, increasing the prospects of disaster.
In a poignant statement during a press conference, Blatten’s mayor, Matthias Bellwald, remarked, “We’ve lost the village, but not the heart.” Officials from the Valais Canton noted that the extent of destruction was profound, with Stéphane Ganzer, a state councilor, indicating that nearly all structures in Blatten had been buried.
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter expressed her sorrow over the devastation via social media, underscoring the emotional toll on the affected individuals. The landslide, comparable to a 3.1-magnitude earthquake, created further concerns of flooding as local riverbeds became blocked by debris, prompting officials to consider additional evacuations.
To mitigate potential flooding, regional authorities have requested military assistance for pump deployment and debris clearance. Furthermore, the main accessibility route between Blatten and the nearby village of Goppenstein has been closed, restricting movement to residents only.
In preparation for potential landslides, residents meticulously evacuated livestock including sheep and cattle, as visible in widely circulated online images. Last year, a similar geological threat resulted in mass evacuations in neighboring areas, highlighting the persistent risks posed by the region's unpredictable mountainous terrain.
The events surrounding Blatten's perilous situation continue to develop, with recovery efforts anticipated to extend over several years.
Describing the situation, Matthias Ebener, a spokesperson for the crisis management team, confirmed that the once tranquil village was now entombed under debris of mud, ice, and rocks. Drone footage captured the dramatic moment of the glacier's collapse, releasing a towering plume of dust that swallowed the landscape below.
Residents had been evacuated nine days prior to the disaster, as the glacier, heavily laden with approximately nine million tons of debris, was reported to be moving dangerously at a speed of eight to 11 feet daily toward the valley, increasing the prospects of disaster.
In a poignant statement during a press conference, Blatten’s mayor, Matthias Bellwald, remarked, “We’ve lost the village, but not the heart.” Officials from the Valais Canton noted that the extent of destruction was profound, with Stéphane Ganzer, a state councilor, indicating that nearly all structures in Blatten had been buried.
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter expressed her sorrow over the devastation via social media, underscoring the emotional toll on the affected individuals. The landslide, comparable to a 3.1-magnitude earthquake, created further concerns of flooding as local riverbeds became blocked by debris, prompting officials to consider additional evacuations.
To mitigate potential flooding, regional authorities have requested military assistance for pump deployment and debris clearance. Furthermore, the main accessibility route between Blatten and the nearby village of Goppenstein has been closed, restricting movement to residents only.
In preparation for potential landslides, residents meticulously evacuated livestock including sheep and cattle, as visible in widely circulated online images. Last year, a similar geological threat resulted in mass evacuations in neighboring areas, highlighting the persistent risks posed by the region's unpredictable mountainous terrain.
The events surrounding Blatten's perilous situation continue to develop, with recovery efforts anticipated to extend over several years.
