A huge portion of a glacier in the Swiss Alps has broken off, causing an avalanche of ice, mud, and rocks that buried almost the entire village of Blatten.
The village had been evacuated at the beginning of the month as a precautionary measure due to increased risks of collapse. Swiss authorities have confirmed that the natural disaster occurred on Wednesday, covering a large part of the mountain village, reports Euronews.
Images shared on social media and Swiss television capture the moment when the torrent of mud and debris reached the village of Blatten, located in the southern Lötschental valley.
Numerous houses were partially buried under a dense mass of mud following the collapse of the Birch glacier. Local authorities have confirmed the extent of the catastrophe.
A man is reported missing
Regional police have announced that a 64-year-old man is reported missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing, utilizing a drone with a thermal camera for location purposes.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the number of victims increasing as the clearing operations progress in the area.
"I can tell you that approximately 90% of the village is covered or destroyed. It is a major catastrophe for Blatten," said Stephane Ganzer, head of the security service in the canton of Valais.
He specified that the proportions of the disaster are unprecedented for this mountainous region and that interventions will continue in the long term.
Military mobilized for intervention
The regional government issued a statement confirming that a large part of the Birch glacier, located above the village, broke off, causing a landslide that also covered the nearby Lonza riverbed.
This blockage has increased the risk of new floods due to the formation of water accumulations.
Ganzer added that the Swiss army had already been mobilized following observations indicating an acceleration of the glacier movements.
The military intervention aimed to ensure complete evacuation and to monitor possible developments in the situation, which remains extremely unstable.
During a press conference, Switzerland's Minister of the Environment, Albert Rösti, expressed deep regret over "an extraordinary event" and announced that the Government would take measures to assist locals left homeless. Authorities will financially support the reconstruction and relocation of those affected.
Swiss glaciers melting rapidly
In recent days, about 300 people have been evacuated from Blatten due to immediate risks posed by the glacier estimated at 1.5 million cubic meters. Swiss experts have been warning for years about the accelerated melting of glaciers, mainly attributed to global warming.
Switzerland, a landlocked country, holds the most glaciers in Europe. In 2023, it lost 4% of the total ice volume, the second-largest annual loss recorded, after the 6% decrease in 2022.
Climate change severely affects alpine ecosystems and increases the risks of natural disasters.