Reconstruction of Blatten: Hope after a landslide in Switzerland!

Reconstruction of Blatten: Hope after a landslide in Switzerland!

On May 28, 2025, a devastating landslide occurred in the Lötschental in Switzerland, burying large parts of the town of Blatten under rubble. This catastrophe, caused by masses of rubble from the Kleiner Nesthorn and the Birch Glacier, not only destroyed the living environment of the residents, but also made numerous houses and places uninhabitable. A man, a 64-year-old sheep farmer, has been missing since then and is presumed deceased. The situation presented enormous challenges to the severely affected community.

In response to this accident, Blatten was evacuated on May 19, 2025, bringing around 300 residents and animals to safety. Some residents were able to return on June 5, 2025, but the risk of another landslide remains. In order for the return and reconstruction to be carried out safely, comprehensive geological and spatial planning clarifications are required. Geologist Hans-Rudolf Keusen has emphasized that the exact location of a future village is crucial for reconstruction and that it is necessary to find a safe place outside the danger zone. According to Kleine Zeitung, Keusen is convinced that reconstruction is technically possible, but speaks out against relocation of the mountain population.

Federal government plans emergency aid

The Swiss federal government has now announced emergency aid of five million francs for the affected residents of Blatten. This measure, which is based on an initiative by Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter, is intended to represent the first steps to support those affected. However, Environment Minister Albert Rösti warned that the actual damage in Blatten may go far beyond the available resources. Reconstruction is seen as a complex challenge that requires not only financial but also safety considerations.

At the same time, the question of reconstruction is controversial among the population and among experts. Boris Previšić, director of the Uri Institute for Alpine Cultures, sees good reasons for reconstruction, as long as it takes place in a safe place. He advocates a dynamic understanding of the Alpine region and advocates making the resident population more mobile in order to avoid natural hazards. This means that the concept of three-stage farming could also be applied to living space to ensure greater security.

Risks and emotional attachments

The residents' emotional connection to Blatten also plays a crucial role in the debate about reconstruction. Critical voices calling for depopulation of the valleys are not well received by the population. At the same time, it is a complex situation in which the risks of reconstruction and the financial aspects must be carefully considered. The discussion about the future of mountain villages is essential, as climate change and the associated unstable rocks bring additional risks.

Next week, Parliament will decide on the proposed emergency aid, while experts continue to discuss the long-term strategy for the future of the mountain village and safety in mountain areas. According to SRF, the emotional connection, tradition, security and solidarity within the affected community are at the center of this discussion. A comprehensive concept for restoring the living environment and a differentiated understanding of the dangers are considered necessary in order to preserve the identity-forming culture of the Alps.

The developments in the coming weeks will show in which direction the plans for Blatten will go. It remains to be seen whether the village can be rebuilt at the historic site or whether alternative solutions need to be considered.