The quaint Swiss village of Blatten has experienced a tragic disaster as a massive section of a glacier plummeted into the valley, causing significant destruction. Although residents were evacuated days earlier due to concerns about the Birch glacier’s stability, one individual is currently missing, and many homes have been completely demolished.
Mayor Matthias Bellwald expressed his sorrow, stating, “the unimaginable has happened,” while reassuring that the village retains hope for the future. Local authorities have reached out to the Swiss army’s disaster relief unit for assistance, with representatives of the Swiss government en route to the disaster site.
This catastrophic incident has triggered fears among Alpine communities, as Blatten’s 300 residents were forced to flee on May 19 following geologists’ warnings about glacier instability, leaving many uncertain if they will ever return.
With tears in his eyes, Bellwald vowed, “We have lost our village, but not our heart. We will support and comfort each other.” The Swiss government has committed to providing funds to help residents remain nearby, even if they cannot return to Blatten itself.
Nevertheless, Raphaël Mayoraz from the regional Natural Hazards office advised that further evacuations in areas surrounding Blatten might be necessary. Climate change is rapidly melting glaciers and destabilizing permafrost, heightening risks to communities across the region.
Drone footage captured the harrowing moment the glacier collapsed, triggering a deafening avalanche of mud and debris that engulfed the village. Despite past warnings from glaciologists about the dangers posed to alpine towns, Blatten is not the first community to be evacuated due to such threats.
Source: www.bbc.com
