A disastrous collapse of a glacier in the Swiss Alps has ruined the Alpine village of Blatten, with officials now keeping a close eye on the threat of a flood caused by a natural dam created by the rubble.
On May 28, 2025, a huge chunk of the Birch Glacier in Switzerland’s Wallis southern region calved, releasing a torrent of ice, rock, and mud that buried about 90% of Blatten. The village’s 300 inhabitants had been evacuated in advance in early May when geologists determined the glacier was showing signs of instability, which could have otherwise saved more lives. Yet, one 64-year-old man is still unaccounted for, and efforts to locate him have been called off because of perilous conditions.
The debris of the landslide has blocked the Lonza River, forming a bulging lake that threatens to bring a major flood to downstream populations. Authorities have issued a local state of emergency and are evaluating the situation to prevent possible flooding.
Experts blame the collapse of the glacier on climate change-driven melting of alpine permafrost, which destabilizes mountain foundations. Switzerland has lost significant volume of its glaciers over the past few years, with a loss of 4% in 2023 after a record 6% loss in the previous year.
The tragedy has shocked the population of Blatten, trying to come to terms with the loss of home and community. The Swiss government has promised aid to the victims, calling for stepped-up monitoring and preparedness against rising climate-related natural disasters.
