Flood risk threatens Swiss valley after village destroyed by glacier

A massive landslide in southern Switzerland this week buried the village of Blatten and blocked a river, creating a growing risk of flooding. Millions of cubic meters of ice, mud, and rock crashed down from a mountain on Wednesday, flooding the few buildings left in the village.

Luckily, all 300 residents had already been evacuated earlier in May after signs of instability near the Birch Glacier.

By Thursday, flooding worsened as the debris- stretching nearly 2 kilometers, blocked the River Lonza, forming a lake and raising concerns that more flooding or landslides could occur. Authorities warned nearby villages, Gampel and Steg, to be ready for possible evacuation.

The Swiss army is on standby with equipment to help once it’s safe. Meanwhile, rescue teams are still searching for a 64-year-old man missing since the disaster, though the search was paused due to the unstable debris and risk of more rockfalls.

The destruction has shocked local residents, and scientists believe it may be a striking example of how climate change is affecting the Alpine region.

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