Shock in the Lötschental: Glacier abort buried village Blatten under rubble!

Shock in the Lötschental: Glacier abort buried village Blatten under rubble!

In the Swiss canton of Valais, a catastrophic glacier abort in the Lötschental on May 28, 2025 buried the village of Blatten almost completely under a meter -high wet layer. About nine million tons of rock, ice and mud fell into the valley and caused massive destruction. The sludge avalanche reached the village around 3:30 p.m. The birch glacier, on which the demolition took place, had long been affected by unstable rocky masses that were observed in the weeks before. Before the demolition, there was even a rock fall on the small nesthorn that alerted the authorities.

The damage is enormous: around 130 houses and the church in Blatten, a once popular holiday destination, are affected. 90 % of the village are now buried under rubble, which is thick between 50 and 200 meters. A geologist warns of the instability of the dam that arises from the scree masses. These flow and stow the Lonza river, which brings with it the risk of a tidal wave. Evacuation measures by the authorities have led to around 300 inhabitants being brought to safety before the demolition, but 16 people who had to be evacuated from their houses are affected.

The search for the missing

A 64-year-old locian is missing and was recently considered to be seen in the Tennmatten area. The search for him continues under difficult conditions, while the Swiss army, equipped with pumps and drones, monitors the Situation and supports the emergency services. As a precaution, the neighboring communities of Wiler and Kippel had to be evacuated as a precaution, since persistent rain increases the risk of a dam break.

The emotional stress on the remaining residents is high. Many have lost everything and are faced with the reconstruction of their community, which until recently was considered an idyllic holiday paradise with hiking and ski slopes. Financial institutions from Caritas Switzerland and the SRK of 430,000 euros have already been promised, while the sponsorship for mountain communities is planning to help over 1 million euros. Personalities such as President of the National Council Maja Riniker and EU ambassador Petros Mavromicanis have expressed their sympathy and support.

an earthquake -like event

The abortion was so huge that it triggered a slight earthquake of the strength of 3.1, which was noticeable in many parts of Switzerland. The authorities warn of further consequences and call up the population to comply with security instructions. The entire region remains at risk and experts attribute the mass break to the thaw on the permafrost soil as well as geological instabilities and climatic changes. The situation impressively shows the dangers associated with climate change and change in the mountain landscape.

The severity of the disaster and the challenges that the municipality of Blatten is now standing are depressing. But in the midst of all the tragic there are also support offers from organizations and the population that show that solidarity is in difficult times.

For more information about this tragic situation, visit the reports from Vol.at href = "https://www.fireworld.at/2025/29/schweiz-getiger-gletscher-mut-rund-9-mio-tonnen-%86%92-ein-perse-person-dersst-dorf-blatten-begraben/"> Fireworld.at and WDR .