A massive glacier collapse leading to a landslide in the Swiss Alps has buried 90% of the village of Blatten, leaving residents devastated and one man still missing, in what officials are calling one of the most destructive natural disasters to hit the region in years. The Birch Glacier, located above the picturesque Lötschental valley, partially collapsed on May 28, unleashing an enormous flow of mud, rocks, and ice that crashed into the valley below, swallowing homes, roads, and even parts of the Lonza River bed.
Blatten’s mayor, Matthias Bellwald, was blunt in a press conference: “We’ve lost our village. The village is under rubble. We will rebuild.”
“Unbelievable Amount of Material” Thunders Into Valley
Footage shared on social media and broadcast by Swiss news outlets shows the terrifying moment plumes of dust and sludge engulfed the Alpine village. While 300 residents and all livestock had been evacuated earlier this month due to fears of a glacier break, the scale of the destruction stunned even seasoned officials.
“An unbelievable amount of material thundered down into the valley,” said Matthias Ebener, a spokesperson for local authorities.
One 64-year-old man remains missing, and search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing, with drones equipped with thermal cameras deployed over the unstable terrain.
Rising Risk of Flooding Below the Glacier Zone
The Swiss glacier collapse also raised concerns about a potential secondary catastrophe. Authorities warned that the debris had dammed the Lonza River, creating a growing lake behind the blockage.
“There is a serious risk of an ice jam that could flood the valley below,” warned Antoine Jacquod, a military security official.
As a precaution, 16 people were evacuated from villages downstream on Wednesday night. Swiss army units have been deployed with pumps and clearing equipment to try to stabilise the riverbed.
A Warning from Nature — Fueled by Climate Change
The glacier collapse landslide is yet another alarming sign of accelerated glacier retreat, a phenomenon caused by climate change. Swiss glaciologists have noted that the country has lost an unprecedented amount of ice in the past two years — 6% of its glacier volume in 2022, followed by another 4% in 2023.
“Switzerland is ground zero for glacier loss in Europe,” said Raphael Mayoraz, Valais canton’s head of natural hazard management. “These events are not just natural — they’re warnings.”
This latest collapse comes days after the bodies of five skiers were discovered on another Swiss glacier near Zermatt, further highlighting the growing danger in alpine regions.
The Aftermath and a Glimmer of Resolve
Despite the devastation, the community is determined to return. “We will rebuild,” Mayor Bellwald reiterated, even as debris and instability make immediate recovery impossible.
As rescue crews continue their search and experts monitor flood threats, Blatten’s story has become a sobering symbol of how climate-driven disasters can erase centuries-old communities in minutes.
