Catastrophe in Blatten: glacier collapse threatens village and population!

Catastrophe in Blatten: glacier collapse threatens village and population!

On May 29, 2025, a catastrophic glacier collapse occurred in Blatten in Valais, tearing off almost the entire Birch glacier and causing massive destruction. Loud FireWorld As a result, a lake filled up, which was created by deposits from the glacier and material from landslides on the Kleiner Nesthorn. In the hours that followed, the area was declared a disaster zone.

The circumstances are dramatic. The ice and rubble deposit in the valley floor is several dozen meters thick and about two kilometers long, which buried much of the village of Blatten. “A total of around three million cubic meters of stone fell into the valley,” reported Raphael Mayoraz, head of natural hazards in Valais, at a media conference Watson reports. The blockage of the Lonza's outflow led to the formation of a lake, posing a risk of flooding to surrounding buildings.

Evacuation measures and dangerous situation

In view of the dangerous situation, the regional command and the Gampel-Steg intervention troops have already initiated evacuation measures. In Lötschental, some buildings have been evacuated and the population is urged to follow the authorities' instructions and avoid the affected area. Civil defense, specialist engineering offices and the army are ready to mobilize resources and assess the situation on site.

An overflow of the newly formed lake could trigger torrential lava flows and a debris flow avalanche, making the situation even worse. Interventions in the disaster area are currently impossible due to the unstable situation, which underlines the preparedness of the emergency services and the need for preventive evacuation. The cantonal road from Goppenstein to Blatten will also remain closed to all traffic until further notice, apart from residents and emergency vehicles.

Historical aspects of natural hazards

Due to its geological conditions and complex topography, Switzerland is particularly vulnerable to natural hazards such as rockslides. The glacier collapse in Blatten is one of the most serious events of the last 25 years. For example, in August 2017, over three million cubic meters of rock fell in the Graubünden mountain village of Bondo, which led to tragic consequences. Basic knowledge about the risks of such natural events is important in order to best protect the population and prevent future incidents, such as the analysis of SRF shows.

The situation in Blatten is currently being closely monitored while the emergency services are doing everything they can to reduce the danger to the population and deal with the consequences of this natural disaster.