Massive Glacier Collapse Buries Swiss Mountain Village

A significant glacier collapse on Wednesday has buried the majority of the evacuated mountain village of Blatten in the Valais region of Switzerland. According to local emergency management officials, nearly 90 percent of the village was engulfed by a massive mudslide, several meters in height. A search operation is currently underway for a 64-year-old resident who has been reported missing, but efforts thus far have not yielded results.

The triggering event was a rockfall from the Kleine Nesthorn mountain, which stands at approximately 3,800 meters above the now-collapsed Birchgletscher. In recent days, around nine million tons of debris had accumulated on the glacier, exerting significant pressure on the ice masses. Due to concerns about the potential hazards, the village of Blatten was fully evacuated last week, with around 300 residents being relocated in a short timeframe. Many homes are now destroyed, buried under a thick layer of debris.

Despite the evacuation, a search operation for the missing local resident continued into the evening. Three specialists from the Wallis cantonal rescue organization were airlifted to the site via helicopter, assisted by a drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera. However, the search was unsuccessful until late in the night.

Authorities believe that the debris from the Kleine Nesthorn largely contributed to the glacier collapse. According to Raphaël Mayoraz, a natural hazards expert from the Valais canton, approximately three million cubic meters of rock and ice cascaded down onto Blatten around 3:30 PM on Wednesday. He described the glacier and mudslide event as unprecedented in its scale.

The debris cone created by the collapse is estimated to be between 50 and 200 meters thick. Authorities had anticipated a severe event, and their worst fears have now been realized. Mayoraz indicated that the majority of the material had likely fallen during the incident, and footage aired by Swiss public broadcaster SRF depicted a vast dust cloud rolling down the mountainside.

The Swiss Seismological Service reported that the area experienced a tremor measuring 3.1 in magnitude. Prior to this, significant amounts of ice, rock, snow, and water had already cascaded down the slopes.

In a press conference held in the neighboring municipality of Ferden, the mayor expressed sorrow over the loss of the village, stating that while the physical structure of the village has been devastated, the community spirit remains intact. He emphasized the importance of rebuilding and reaffirmed that although the village is now covered by debris, they know where their homes and church will stand once again.

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, extended her condolences to the residents of Blatten, acknowledging the profound impact of losing one's home. Both the Environment Minister Albert Rösti and Defense Minister Martin Pfister traveled immediately to the disaster area, pledging government support to the affected community.

Despite the glacier collapse, experts warn that the dangers for the valley are not yet over. The rockfall has caused significant blockage of the Lonza River over a stretch of approximately two kilometers. While the likelihood of additional mudslides is currently considered low due to previously low water levels, authorities remain vigilant and cannot rule out the possibility of flooding or further evacuations.