Glacier threat in Switzerland: Villages brace for evacuations

• The glacier avalanche has devastated part of the village of Blatten in Switzerland.
• Water obstructed by the landslide poses a growing threat.
• Evacuations of residents are being prepared in several towns.

In Blatten, Switzerland, where life once thrived, a landscape of destruction now dominates. The glacier avalanche buried the alpine village, and more towns are at risk. Water accumulating behind the debris blockage is continuously 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 severe enough that authorities are preparing to evacuate residents from nearby towns such as Steg-Hohtenn and Gampel-Bratsch.

Local authorities are considering two potential scenarios for the development of the situation. The first assumes that the water will gradually find a passage through the landslide. The second, more dangerous scenario, predicts a sudden release of water that could trigger a mud flood. Both scenarios are being analysed by specialists to ensure the safety of the residents.

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 swift evacuation if the situation deteriorates.

By Friday morning, it remained uncertain whether the water would find a calm outflow through the debris or cause a sudden mud flood. Authorities warn that the situation is too perilous to undertake any cleanup operations.

Rescuers and experts are compelled to monitor 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.