Switzerland's Landslide Nightmare Will the River Unleash More Chaos?

Switzerland Grapples with Aftermath of Massive Landslide, Search Continues for Missing Man

The picturesque Swiss Alps have been marred by a devastating landslide that engulfed the village of Blatten in the southern Wallis region. Authorities are currently engaged in a desperate search for a 64-year-old man who went missing following the catastrophic event, employing a drone equipped with a thermal camera to aid in the effort.

The landslide, triggered by the crumbling of the Birch glacier, sent a massive wave of rock and ice cascading down the mountainside, coating the Alpine village in a thick layer of mud and debris. The sheer scale of the disaster has left residents reeling, with officials estimating that 90% of Blatten has been destroyed.

A Village Ravaged

Blatten, home to approximately 300 people, had been evacuated as a precaution last week, but the force of the landslide proved overwhelming. State Councilor Stephane Ganzer described the scene as one of widespread devastation.

Climate Change Under the Microscope

The event has once again brought the impact of climate change on Switzerland's glaciers into sharp focus. Matthias Huss, head of Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland, emphasized the likely role of climate change in destabilizing the rock mass within the permafrost zone, ultimately leading to the glacier collapse and subsequent landslide.

• Glaciers have lost about 10% of their volume since 2022.
• The melting in 2022 and 2023 equaled the combined loss from 1960 to 1990.
• "Unexpected things happen at places that we have not seen for hundreds of years, most probably due to climate change," Huss stated.

Fears of Flooding Rise

Adding to the concerns, the massive pile of glacier debris, stretching over 2 kilometers (1.25 miles), has blocked the Lonza River. Authorities have declared a state of emergency, fearing that the blockage could lead to catastrophic flooding in downstream villages.

Antoine Jacquod, a military security official, warned of a "serious risk of an ice jam that could flood the valley below." An artificial dam has been emptied as a precaution, ready to receive any overflow, but the potential for a larger evacuation remains a looming threat.

Key Concerns:

• The blocked Lonza River poses a significant flood risk.
• The debris deposit remains unstable, hindering intervention efforts.
• Up to 1 million cubic meters (35 million cubic feet) of water could accumulate daily.

Residents in Shock

Martin Henzen, a resident of Blatten, expressed the shock and disbelief felt by the community. While residents had prepared for potential natural disasters, the scale of destruction far exceeded their expectations. Livestock is being airlifted out of the affected area as a priority.

Looking Ahead

As the search for the missing man continues and authorities work tirelessly to mitigate the flood risk, the disaster serves as a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of mountain communities in the face of a changing climate. The road to recovery will undoubtedly be long and challenging, but the resilience of the Swiss people, coupled with decisive action, will be crucial in rebuilding Blatten and safeguarding the surrounding region.

The event underscores the urgent need for global cooperation in addressing climate change and implementing sustainable practices to protect our planet's fragile ecosystems. The fate of Blatten is not just a local tragedy; it's a global wake-up call.

Edited by: Zac Crellin

Tags: Switzerland landslide, Glacier collapse, Missing person, Blatten village, Thermal drone, Lonza River, Alpine disaster, Climate change, Swiss Alps, Natural disaster

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/switzerland-flood-risk-after-landslide-engulfs-village/a-72724323