The Swiss village of Blatten experienced a major disaster this week after part of the Birch Glacier collapsed, triggering a mudslide of ice, mud, and rocks that buried a significant portion of the settlement. An additional risk stems from the water trapped beneath the massive layer of the collapsed glacier.
The collapse led to the blockage of the Lonza River, further exacerbating the already present flooding. Due to the obstruction of natural water flow, a lake has formed within the debris. If this lake overflows or if the barrier made of glacial remnants breaks, there is a serious risk of new floods and possible evacuations in the surrounding areas, according to international media reports.
Several days before the glacier broke off, 300 residents of the village were evacuated due to warnings about the potential danger. However, a large number of homes have been completely destroyed.
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What is particularly concerning is the likelihood that this incident will not remain isolated. Due to similar risks, other Alpine villages have already been evacuated.
Experts warn that the cause of this and similar disasters lies in climate change and global warming, which are accelerating the melting of glaciers and permafrost.
Unless the rise in global temperatures is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, there are serious warnings that all glaciers in Switzerland could disappear by the end of this century. Since 1950, Alpine glaciers have already lost about half of their surface area.
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