Bergsturz-alarm in Blatten: Village evacuated due to glacier cancellation!

Bergsturz-alarm in Blatten: Village evacuated due to glacier cancellation!

In the Swiss village of Blatten, the residents were evacuated on May 28, 2025 due to an impending landlord. A large part of the bay glacier broke off, which led to scree masses that entered the already evacuated settlement. From initial assessments of the regional leadership, it shows that, although parts of the 300-inhabitant community were buried, luckily no people were harmed. The evacuation was a preventive measure that was taken due to the impending danger in the previous week after larger amounts of ice, rock, snow and water turned into the valley on the night of May 27th.

Around nine million tons of rubble material had been deposited on the glacier, which fears that experts fear that the accumulated scree quantities could trigger a chain reaction that leads to further degenies. The threatening situation was further tightened by rubble cones on the glacier and increasing rainfall. Mayor Matthias Bellwald expressed that the situation could make itself more complicated over time.

preparations and evacuations

Already on May 20, the last cow was flown out of sheets to ensure more security. The local authorities are preparing for possible further evacuations, but there are currently no other signs that this could be necessary. The residents of Blatten have recognized the seriousness of the situation and the evacuation was implemented quickly to minimize the risk of human life, as

The endangerment from the abortion is not surprising because the mountain in the Swiss Alps has been breaking apart for a long time. This is part of a major problem that is also reinforced by climate change. Researchers warn that the glaciers in Switzerland could lose up to 75% of their ice volume by the end of the century, which has massive effects on water supply and nature in the affected areas.

climate change as an underlying cause

The situation in Blatten is symptomatic of the increasing challenges that Switzerland must overcome as a result of climate change. According to the Tagesanzeiger , the effects of these changes already show significant consequences: less snow, more rain and an increasing flood risk, the climate expectations in the region shape. Above all, heating by 1.8 degrees Celsius in Switzerland since 1850, which is 1.6 times above the average of the northern hemisphere, contributes to the instability of the glaciers and the associated dangers.

In addition, the revision of the CO2 law, which is currently in consultation, increases the discussion about suitable measures to combat these phenomena. Requirements for reducing CO2 emissions by 50%, of which at least 30% are to be reduced in Switzerland, make it clear how serious the situation is. Experts, such as Philippe Thalmann from ETH Lausanne, suggest that emissions are reduced by 40% in Germany to improve the situation.

The previous events in Blatten reflect the increasing urgency of climate change, and Switzerland is faced with the challenge of adapting to the new circumstances. While the municipality of Blatten and surrounding areas are currently being protected from the consequences of the end of the glacier, it remains to be seen which further measures are required to guarantee the citizens in the future.

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OrtBlatten, Schweiz
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