Dangerous glacier movement in the Lötschental: Blaten evacuated!

Dangerous glacier movement in the Lötschental: Blaten evacuated!

Blatten im Walliser Lötschental, Schweiz - On May 25, 2025, the population around Blatten observes worrying developments in the Valais Lötschental. The glacier in this region continues to show signs of instability and moves towards the valley. Josianne Jaggi, spokeswoman for the regional leadership (RFS) Lötschental, reports that rock falls and ice rods appeared on Sunday night, but the rubble and the ice did not reach the valley. These events are part of a persistent pattern of geological activities that now lasts over a week.

The situation around the little nesthorn is tense. There were increasingly rock breakdowns, especially on the eastern flank of the mountain. The highest point of the little Nesthorn crashed on Friday evening, followed by another smaller rock break on Saturday night. The movement of the glacier has increased dramatically, so that it pushes four to four and a half meters a day.

geological changes and their consequences

The cantonal leadership staff Lötschental has urged the population to avoid the danger area and to follow the instructions of the authorities. The geological changes are not just a short -term phenomenon. According to experts, the glaciers, which often count as indicators of climate change, show visible reactions to the ongoing global warming. The melt of the glaciers correlates with increasing temperatures, and important factors such as rainfall and slope tendency significantly influence these developments.

The effects of the glacier melt are far -reaching. Water shortage due to the decline in the glaciers could lead to a loss of plants and habitats for many animals. In the Alps, glaciers have lost 2-3% of their volume annually in the past two decades. Forecasts indicate that more than half of the glacier area of ​​2000 could have disappeared by 2050.

In the region of the Vernagner in the Tyrolean Ötztal, the glacier has lost two thirds of its ice mass over the past 150 years. This is exemplary for the challenges in front of which many glaciers are facing today. Even if the global warming immediately stops, a decline in the glaciers can no longer be prevented because they are slowly reacting to climate changes.

monitoring of the dangerous situation

The municipality of Blatten and specialist agencies permanently monitor the risks in the region. A press conference of the RFS is planned on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. to communicate current developments. The continuous movement of the glacier, the increase in the rubble on the birch glacier and the associated dangers make it urgently needed to carefully observe the situation and to inform the residents about the dangers.

These current events not only show the immediate dangers that come from the glaciers, but also remind of a larger, global problem: the long -term effects of climate change and the increasing instability of glaciers in the Alps. As experts warn, the melt of the glaciers could not only change the landscape sustainably, but also bring considerable social and economic challenges.