Swiss Village of Blatten Devastated by Glacier Collapse

The village of Blatten in Switzerland has suffered catastrophic damage after a glacier collapse engulfed homes, leaving one person missing. The community had been evacuated due to previous warnings of glacier instability. Experts say this incident highlights the growing dangers posed by climate change to alpine regions.

The Swiss village of Blatten has been partially devastated after a significant segment of the Birch glacier crashed into the valley. Residents had already evacuated days prior due to concerns over the glacier's stability, but the disaster struck, leading to the confirmation of one missing person and numerous homes being flattened completely. Local officials characterized the situation as "very bad" and have called for assistance from the Swiss army's disaster response teams, with members of the government en route to assess the damage.

The 300 residents were forced to abandon their homes on May 19 after geologists indicated that the glacier might be at risk of disintegrating. Unfortunately, many residents may find it impossible to return. The calamity that has befallen Blatten represents a severe concern for communities spread across the Alpine region.

Climate change is accelerating the melting of glaciers—the frozen rivers of ice in the mountains—as well as the thawing of permafrost, which typically helps to stabilize these mountainous areas. Drone footage captured the moment a massive portion of the Birch glacier fell around 3:30 PM (local time), creating a deafening roar as it unleashed an avalanche of mud over Blatten, enveloping the area in a cloud of dust.

Experts in the field of glaciology have signaled warnings for years that many alpine towns and villages could be at risk from destabilizing glaciers. Blatten isn't the first village to face evacuation; the residents of Brienz were forced to leave two years ago due to crumbling mountainsides. They have only been allowed brief returns since their displacement.

In a tragic history of the glacier's impacts, eight hikers lost their lives, and numerous homes were destroyed in 2017 from the largest landslide to hit the village of Bondo in over a century. Recent reports indicate a grim future for Swiss glaciers, which could disappear entirely within a century if global temperatures rise beyond the 1.5C threshold established in the Paris Climate Agreement—an objective that many climate scientists believe has already been surpassed, leading to an escalation in glacier retreat, flooding, and landslides threatening more communities like Blatten.