The Swiss village of Blatten has been almost entirely buried by a catastrophic glacier collapse in the Alps, triggering mudslides and destruction after weeks of evacuation warnings.
In a devastating turn of nature, the picturesque Swiss Alpine village of Blatten has been nearly completely destroyed after a massive section of the Birch Glacier broke off, unleashing a deadly mix of ice, rock, and mud into the valley.
Drone footage shows 90% of the village now buried, with homes, trees, and even the Lonza River lost beneath a thick layer of debris. Swiss authorities have confirmed that one person remains missing.
Glacier Break Sparks Catastrophic Landslide
The Birch Glacier, perched high above Blatten in the Valais canton, had long been monitored for signs of instability. Earlier this month, authorities issued evacuation orders over fears of a potential rockslide.
Those fears have now materialized.
“A large chunk of the glacier broke off,” confirmed regional officials. “It caused a massive landslide that buried the village and the Lonza riverbed.”
Eyewitness drone images shared by Swiss national broadcaster SRF reveal the scale of the destruction: the entire valley appears swallowed by grey earth and rubble.
90% of Blatten Is Gone
“This is a major catastrophe,” said Stephane Ganzer, head of regional security for Valais. “About 90% of the village is covered or destroyed.”
The devastation is total. Roads, homes, bridges—all vanished beneath mud and boulders.
Even the river running through Blatten has disappeared under layers of sediment, raising concerns about damming and possible flooding.
“There’s a risk the situation could get worse,” Ganzer added, warning that unstable water flows could now pose further threats downstream.
Mayor: ‘We’ve Lost Our Village’
In a solemn press conference, Mayor Matthias Bellwald spoke through visible grief. “We’ve lost our village,” he said. “The village is under rubble. We will rebuild.”
Despite the tragedy, Bellwald expressed gratitude that the evacuation had prevented a larger loss of life.
Local spokesperson Matthias Ebener confirmed that only one person is currently unaccounted for. “An unbelievable amount of material thundered down into the valley,” he said. “It happened fast—too fast to stop.”
Warnings Came Weeks Earlier
Swiss geologists had issued repeated warnings about the unstable Birch Glacier, noting increased movement in the ice mass over recent months.
Residents of Blatten were ordered to evacuate weeks ago, as part of a coordinated civil protection plan.
The collapse comes amid mounting concerns about the impact of climate change on Alpine glaciers, which are melting at record rates. Experts warn that glacial instability is becoming more frequent across Europe.
Rebuilding Amid Ruin
The government of Valais has pledged emergency support and will assess the full extent of the damage once the site is stabilized. Swiss military and civil engineers have been deployed to monitor water levels and assist in recovery.
For the residents of Blatten, however, the road to recovery will be long.
“Our hearts are broken,” said one former resident who watched the destruction from nearby. “This wasn’t just a village—it was our history, our community, our lives.”
A Wake-Up Call for Alpine Communities
The tragedy in Blatten underscores a growing crisis. Glacier collapses and landslides are no longer rare events in Switzerland. As warming temperatures accelerate ice retreat and ground instability, more villages may face similar risks.
Blatten’s story is one of heartbreak—but also of foresight. Early evacuation saved lives, even if it could not save homes.
The future for this once-idyllic Swiss village is uncertain, but the determination to rebuild from the rubble is already underway.
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