Abortion of the glacier: Blaten sinks into chaos - a village is lost!
Abortion of the glacier: Blaten sinks into chaos - a village is lost!
On May 28, 2025, a devastating natural disaster occurred in the Valais village of Blatten, as parts of the pirch glacier broke down to the Lötschental with more than nine million cubic meters. The drop in the glacier buried the village almost completely under a rubble mountain that is several dozen meters high. At this point, 306 inhabitants who were previously brought to safety lived in the village, as well as numerous animals, including cows, rabbits and sheep. Despite the evacuation, a person is missing in the disaster area, and the effects on the residents are serious.
The Valais government had already proclaimed a special situation before the dramatic demolition and asked the population to avoid the affected area. Nevertheless, the demolition happened without a previous warning sign. At 3:30 p.m. the glacier crashed and created a pressure wave that was far noticeable, accompanied by an audible bang and a cloud of smoke. Reports about a short -term power failure followed.
emotional and physical consequences
For the residents of Blattens, the loss of their homeland is not only physically, but also emotionally serious. Regula Ritler, a resident, emphasizes her personal connection to Blatten, where she has lost her aunt and grandmother. An older man from Wiler, who has lived there for 71 years, describes the mental loss as the biggest problem. Many young people had just built new houses in Blatten.
The situation could continue to worsen. Experts warn of possible other drops on the small Nesthorn, where several hundred thousand cubic meters of rock are considered unstable. The ice melt on the surrounding mountains and in the rubble cone could also destabilize the rubble mountain. MeteoWweiz also published a warning of the risk of thunderstorms and gusts of wind that can also endanger the situation.
climate change and its role
The event in Blaten is not to be considered isolated. Mylène Jacquemart, Glaziologist at ETH Zurich, described the abortion as unpredictable. Factors such as climate change and the associated ice melt reinforce the risks in the Swiss Alps. A study by the WSL shows a clear connection between smaller landslides and climate change, while larger landslide like that of leaves are more difficult to assign.
The average temperature in Switzerland has increased by almost 3 ° C since the pre -industrial period. At the same time, the number of forced relocations in Switzerland is continuously increasing due to natural disasters; In 2024 she reached a maximum of 1100 cases.
In the region, measures have already been taken to improve the monitoring of soil movements. This is done by using satellite images, radar devices and sensors. Due to the close cooperation between the authorities, companies and researchers, potential dangers should be recognized at an early stage in order to reduce the risk to the population. Nevertheless, preventive interventions are extremely difficult for large amounts of materials and in difficult -to -access areas.The catastrophe of Blatten entails far -reaching questions about security and future living conditions in alpine regions. Those responsible face the challenge of securing the basic needs of the population in such an endangered environment, while nature remains unpredictable. The lucky chain has already started a collection campaign to help those affected in the Lötschental, while the local people are trying to find their way with their new, sad reality.