Avalanche of Ice and Mud Engulfs Swiss Village, Leaving One Missing

A catastrophic glacier collapse in the Swiss Alps has resulted in significant destruction of the village of Blatten, leading to one person missing and the majority of the community buried beneath debris. As recovery efforts commence, fears of flooding from blocked riverbeds increase.

A massive glacier in the Swiss Alps gave way on Wednesday, triggering a landslide that obliterated much of the village of Blatten, home to around 300 people. This disaster unfolded just days after authorities had preemptively ordered an evacuation of residents.

Matthias Ebener, a spokesperson for the local crisis management team, reported that about 90 percent of the village has been covered by debris, with at least one individual unaccounted for. Eyewitness accounts and drone footage illustrate the moment when the glacier released a chaotic surge of ice, rocks, and mud, leading to this unprecedented devastation.

Experts revealed that up to nine million tons of debris from the Birch Glacier had been in motion prior to the catastrophic event, translating to a shift of approximately eight to 11 feet per day. Local officials have cautioned that recovery from this disaster will take years, although immediate assessments of the damage are underway. Mayor Matthias Bellwald expressed resilience stating, “We’ve lost the village, but not the heart.”

Highlighting the scale of destruction, Stéphane Ganzer, a state councilor from Valais, conveyed the shocking statistics during a press conference. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter shared condolences on social media, acknowledging the pain of losing homes and expressing solidarity with the impacted community.

In the aftermath of the landslide, officials indicated that the potential for flooding is high, as debris has obstructed nearby riverbeds, which could induce hazardous ice jams. To mitigate potential flooding, authorities have mobilized military resources for emergency pumping and debris removal, even warning that further evacuations might be necessary.

The main access road to Blatten has been restricted, only permitting entry for residents. The looming threat from the glacier had caused livestock to be evacuated just before the incident, which included the airlifting of around 52 cattle through helicopter—a common practice in these mountainous regions during emergencies.

This incident echoes a similar scare in 2023, where the nearby village of Brienz averted disaster after a rockslide nearly struck community structures. Continued vigilance and preparation in the area have become paramount, as the haunting reality of glacier movements looms over these quaint alpine villages.

Melina Delkic contributed reporting.