A massive piece of the Birch Glacier in Switzerland’s Lötschental valley collapsed, burying homes in the nearby Alpine town of Blatten. The landslide flattened buildings and sent debris racing down the mountain before causing widespread damage.
Experts say the collapse was triggered by a “cascading disaster” that occurred after millions of pounds of rock debris fell onto the glacier surface. Warm temperatures on Monday accelerated the process, leading to a massive crack in the ice. Glaciologists believe permafrost thawing underneath and along the sidewalls surrounding the glacier contributed to the disaster.
The dangers of glacial degradation are becoming increasingly apparent. As temperatures rise, glaciers can suddenly collapse, causing catastrophic events like this one. The loss of Switzerland’s glaciers could result in long-term reductions in water supply and contribute to rising sea levels.
According to experts, a quarter of Switzerland’s remaining glaciers could be saved if global warming is kept under 2 degrees Celsius. However, with record-high summer temperatures and glacier loss accelerating, the future looks bleak for some of Europe’s most iconic ice formations.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/glaciologists-birch-glacier-collapsed-burying-nearby-swiss-town/story?id=122308200