Glacier avalanche in Switzerland: Rising waters threaten towns
In Blatten, Switzerland, after a glacier avalanche, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. Water blocked by the landslide threatens to flood additional towns.
Key information
- The glacier avalanche destroyed part of the village of Blatten in Switzerland.
- Water blocked by the landslide poses an increasing threat.
- Evacuations of residents are being prepared in several towns.
In Blatten, Switzerland, where life once flourished, now a landscape of destruction prevails. The glacier avalanche buried the alpine village, and more towns are at risk. Water accumulating behind the debris blockage is continually rising.
As Christian Studer from the local natural hazards service reported, the water level is rising at a rate of 79 centimetres per hour. The situation is serious enough that authorities are preparing to evacuate residents from nearby towns such as Steg-Hohtenn and Gampel-Bratsch.
Local authorities are considering two scenarios for the situation's development. The first assumes that the water will slowly find a way through the landslide. The second, more dangerous, predicts a sudden release of water, which could cause a mud flood. Both scenarios are being analyzed by specialists to ensure the residents' safety.
Evacuations and warnings
On Thursday, residents from the towns of Kippel and Wiler as well as from Fafleralp were evacuated. In total, 16 people had to leave their homes. Authorities are urging residents to prepare for a quick evacuation if the situation worsens.
On Friday morning, it was still unclear whether the water would find a calm outflow through the debris or cause a sudden mud flood. Authorities warn that the situation is too dangerous to undertake any cleanup actions.
Rescuers and experts are forced to observe the situation from a safe distance. As Valentin Werlen, a local official, stated, any actions using heavy equipment are currently impossible due to the terrain's instability. For the same reason, the search for a 64-year-old resident who went missing as a result of the disaster has been halted.
