Reconstruction of Blatten: Hope for Bergsturz in Switzerland!

Reconstruction of Blatten: Hope for Bergsturz in Switzerland!

On May 28, 2025, a devastating siding occurred in the Lötschental in Switzerland, which buried large parts of the village of Blatten under rubble. This catastrophe, caused by scree masses from the small Nesthorn and the Birch Glacier, not only destroyed the living environment of the inhabitants, but also made numerous houses and places uninhabitable. A man, a 64-year-old sheep breeder, has been missing since then and is likely to have died. The situation presented the strongly affected community with enormous challenges.

In response to this accident, Blatten was evacuated on May 19, 2025, which brought around 300 inhabitants and animals to safety. On June 5, 2025, some residents were able to return, but there remains the risk of a further clush. In order for the return and reconstruction to be designed safely, extensive geological and spatial planning clarifications are required. The 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 the [Kleine Zeitung] (https://www.kleinezeitung.at/service/newsticker/chronik/19776047/alpen-specialisten- Fuer-Wiederaufbau- von-Schweizer-Ort), Keusen is convinced that a reconstruction is technically possible.

Federal Government plans to help

The Swiss federal government has meanwhile announced an immediate assistance of five million francs for the affected residents of Blatten. This measure, which goes back to an initiative of Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter, is intended to represent the first steps to support the person concerned. However, Environment Minister Albert Rösti warned that the actual damage in Blatten may go far beyond the available funds. A reconstruction is seen as a complex challenge that not only requires financial but also security considerations.

At the same time, the question of reconstruction is controversial among the population and among experts. Boris Previšić, director of the Uri Institute Cultures of the Alps, 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. The concept of three -level agriculture could also be applied to the living space to ensure more security.

risks and emotional bonds

The emotional binding of the residents of Blatten also plays a crucial role in the debate about reconstruction. Critical voices that require a decline in valleys are not very 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 weighed comprehensively. The discussion about the future of the mountain villages is essential, since climate change and the associated unstable rocks have additional risks.

In the coming week, Parliament will decide on the proposed immediate aid, while experts continue to discuss the long -term strategy for the future of the mountain village and the security in mountain spaces. 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 to preserve the identity -creating culture of the Alps.

The developments of the coming weeks will show in which direction the plans for blatings will go. It remains to be seen whether the village can be rebuilt in the historical location or whether alternative solutions must be considered.