Avalanching Birch Glacier wreaks havoc on Swiss village
More than 3.5 million cubic metres of ice, rocks, and frozen snow have avalanched from Birch Glacier onto the village of Blatten in the canton of Valais. Three hundred people were evacuated, and at least one person is considered missing.
What do you need to know?
- What happened? More than 3.5 million cubic metres of ice, rocks, and frozen snow avalanched from the collapsing Birch Glacier onto the village of Blatten.
- Where and when? The disaster took place on Wednesday in Switzerland, in the canton of Valais.
- Why is it important? It might be one of the largest natural disasters in Switzerland, and approximately 300 people were evacuated.
What were the consequences of the disaster?
The collapsing Birch Glacier, located in the canton of Valais, caused massive destruction when the mass of ice and rocks slid onto the village of Blatten. The noise from the collapsing glacier was so powerful that it could be heard in the surrounding area kilometres away.
Many homes ended up under a mass of rocks, mud, and ice several metres thick. Others were seriously damaged.
How did the evacuation go?
Before the disaster, all residents of the village of Blatten were evacuated, which meant relocating approximately 300 people. Thanks to this, despite the massive destruction, there are no reports of casualties. One person is considered missing.
In videos posted on social media, you can see how a gigantic "river" of ice and rocks cascades down the slope, and thick dust rises everywhere.
The mass of ice and rocks created a dam on the river
Currently, local authorities are focusing on assessing the damage and ensuring the safety of residents. Geologists warn that additional landslides may occur—the glacier is still moving.
Experts are also concerned that flooding might occur in the valley. The mass that slid down the mountain created a huge blockage on the local Lonza River. A gigantic spillway could form there.
Source: rmf24.pl, pomona.ch
