A devastating glacier collapse in Switzerland’s Birch valley has destroyed much of the village of Blatten, leaving one person missing and many homes flattened. The disaster occurred just days after the village was evacuated due to concerns about the glacier’s instability.
Blatten’s mayor, Matthias Bellwald, described the event as “unimaginable,” but pledged that the community would come together to support each other. The Swiss government has promised funding to help residents stay in the area, either in Blatten or nearby towns.
Climate change is causing glaciers to melt at an alarming rate, with some experts warning that entire alpine towns and villages could be at risk. In recent years, several villages have been evacuated due to glacier instability, including Brienz two years ago.
The collapse of the Birch glacier is part of a larger trend of glacier thawing and permafrost melting. Scientists warn that if global temperatures continue to rise above 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, all of Switzerland’s glaciers could disappear within a century. The consequences of this include increased risk of flooding and landslides, threatening communities like Blatten.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnv1evn2p2vo