On May 28, 2025, the picturesque village of Blatten found itself at the mercy of nature's fury as a massive glacier disintegrated, unleashing a torrent of ice, mud, and rock. The event, which unfolded nine days after an evacuation order was issued to its 300 residents, buried 90 percent of the village under debris from the Birch Glacier in the Valais Canton. Local crisis management spokesperson Matthias Ebener confirmed the horrifying loss during a press briefing, while drone footage showed the devastating collapse producing a massive cloud of dust.
Glacier Collapse Devastates Swiss Village, Leaves Residents Reeling
Glacier Collapse Devastates Swiss Village, Leaves Residents Reeling
A catastrophic glacier collapse has obliterated much of Blatten, Switzerland, resulting in at least one missing person and prompting mass evacuations.
The glacier had been inching toward the valley at a rate estimated between eight to 11 feet per day, carrying approximately nine million tons of debris with it. Mayor Matthias Bellwald expressed the community's sorrow, stating, "We’ve lost the village, but not the heart," amid ongoing assessments of the extensive damages.
Stéphane Ganzer, a state councilor, reinforced the scale of the disaster, reporting that about 90 percent of Blatten was buried. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter expressed her condolences on social media, picturing the tragedy and lamenting the loss of homes.
The disastrous landslide, which registered a 3.1 magnitude earthquake, has raised concerns about potential flooding in the region, as debris is blocking a nearby riverbed. Officials did not rule out further evacuations and have sought military assistance for debris removal.
The main road to Goppenstein remained closed to all but the residents following the catastrophic event. In the lead-up to the disaster, farmers evacuated 52 cattle, sheep, and domestic animals as the fractured glacier loomed dangerously above. Cattle airlift operations have become a touchstone for the region amid similar crises, as seen in 2023 when the village of Brienz narrowly escaped a comparable disaster.
Local leaders are now working tirelessly to assess the situation, while the community grapples with the tragic loss of their homes and the uncertain future ahead.
Melina Delkic contributed to this report. Neil Vigdor covers breaking news with a focus on politics, while Aishvarya Kavi covers political and national news in the Washington bureau.
Stéphane Ganzer, a state councilor, reinforced the scale of the disaster, reporting that about 90 percent of Blatten was buried. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter expressed her condolences on social media, picturing the tragedy and lamenting the loss of homes.
The disastrous landslide, which registered a 3.1 magnitude earthquake, has raised concerns about potential flooding in the region, as debris is blocking a nearby riverbed. Officials did not rule out further evacuations and have sought military assistance for debris removal.
The main road to Goppenstein remained closed to all but the residents following the catastrophic event. In the lead-up to the disaster, farmers evacuated 52 cattle, sheep, and domestic animals as the fractured glacier loomed dangerously above. Cattle airlift operations have become a touchstone for the region amid similar crises, as seen in 2023 when the village of Brienz narrowly escaped a comparable disaster.
Local leaders are now working tirelessly to assess the situation, while the community grapples with the tragic loss of their homes and the uncertain future ahead.
Melina Delkic contributed to this report. Neil Vigdor covers breaking news with a focus on politics, while Aishvarya Kavi covers political and national news in the Washington bureau.
