A massive section of the Birch Glacier in the Swiss Alps has broken off, causing widespread destruction in the nearby village of Blatten. The glacier’s collapse triggered a landslide that buried most of the village under a thick layer of mud and soil. Drone footage shows the extent of the damage, with the river running through the village and the surrounding valley now completely covered.
“We’ve lost our village,” said Matthias Bellwald, the mayor of Blatten. “The village is under rubble. We will rebuild.” At least one person remains missing, while emergency services warn that the area is hazardous due to the risk of dammed water flows.
Residents had been evacuated from the village on May 19 after geologists identified a high risk of an impending avalanche. Authorities have been monitoring the slopes above Blatten since then, but the disaster still caught many by surprise.
The Swiss government has expressed solidarity with the affected community, while also urging residents to stay away due to the hazardous conditions. The collapse of the glacier serves as a stark reminder of the power of natural forces in mountainous regions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/28/swiss-glacier-collapse-village-switzerland-blatten