A devastating glacial collapse has partially destroyed the Alpine village of Blatten, leaving one person missing and many homes reduced to rubble in what officials are calling a stark warning about the accelerating climate crisis.
A massive chunk of the Birch glacier crashed down into the valley on Wednesday afternoon, creating a thunderous avalanche of ice and mud that swept through the evacuated village. Though residents had been ordered to leave on May 19 due to fears of instability, the force and scale of the collapse shocked even experts.
Blatten’s mayor, Matthias Bellwald, said the unimaginable had happened. Holding back tears, he promised: “We have lost our village, but not our heart.”
The Swiss army’s disaster relief unit has been deployed, and national leaders are en route to support rescue and recovery efforts. Officials are also warning that surrounding areas may face evacuations as glacier and permafrost melt continues to destabilize the Alpine region.
Drone footage showed a wide swath of the Birch glacier collapsing, releasing a cloud of dust and debris as it slammed into the valley floor. Climate experts have long warned that warming temperatures are accelerating glacial retreat and permafrost thaw — the “glue” that holds mountains together.
Switzerland’s glaciers have already lost significant volume in recent decades. The most recent studies warn they could disappear entirely within a century if global emissions are not drastically cut — a goal many now say is slipping out of reach.
