A catastrophic landslide triggered by the collapse of a glacier has devastated the Swiss alpine village of Blatten, destroying approximately 90% of the settlement and leaving a 64-year-old man missing. Authorities had previously evacuated around 300 residents and their livestock due to concerns over the glacier’s stability.
The incident occurred when a large section of the Birch Glacier above the village detached, causing a massive landslide that covered the area with mud and debris. The nearby Lonza River was also buried under the sludge, raising concerns about potential water damming.
State Councilor Stephane Ganzer confirmed the extent of the destruction in a statement to Radio Television Suisse. The Cantonal Police of Valais launched an ongoing search and rescue mission involving drones equipped with thermal cameras to locate the missing individual.
Video footage circulated on social media and Swiss television reveals the scale of the mudslide, with homes and buildings submerged under thick layers of brown mud. The precautionary evacuation, ordered earlier in May, reflected fears stemming from the glacier’s instability, which was estimated to contain roughly 1.5 million cubic meters (52 million cubic feet) of ice now threatened with collapse.
Experts attribute the glacier’s rapid retreat and instability largely to climate change. Swiss glaciologists have noted a persistent thaw over recent years, significantly impacting glacier volume. Switzerland, home to the highest number of glaciers in Europe, experienced a 4% reduction in total glacier volume in 2023 alone — the second-largest annual decline following a 6% loss in 2022.
