Robert Besser
31 May 2025, 22:56 GMT+10
GENEVA, Switzerland: A massive glacier collapse in the Swiss Alps sent a torrent of ice, mud, and rock crashing into the evacuated village of Blatten on May 28, Swiss authorities said, engulfing parts of the remote mountain community just days after residents were ordered to leave.
Drone footage aired by national broadcaster SRF revealed the aftermath: a blanket of earth and debris covering much of the Loetschental valley floor, swallowing parts of the river and the wooded slopes around it.
"An unbelievable amount of material thundered down into the valley," said Matthias Ebener, a spokesperson for local authorities in the canton of Valais. He confirmed there were no reports of injuries or fatalities.
The dramatic force of the slide flattened structures in its path. Shattered wooden buildings lay strewn across the edge of the debris field. The village's 300 residents had been evacuated on May 19 after geologists flagged an imminent risk of collapse from the slopes above.
SRF reported that multiple homes in Blatten were destroyed. Authorities had been closely monitoring the mountainside prior to the event.
One widely shared video captured the moment of the collapse: a huge plume of dust rising as rock and glacier ice roared downhill toward the village.
Get a daily dose of Switzerland Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Switzerland Times.
More InformationFRANKFURT, Germany: Volvo Cars, based in Sweden, is cutting 3,000 jobs to reduce costs as the automobile industry struggles with trade...
STOCKHOLM/DETROIT: Volvo Cars customers will likely bear the brunt of increasing trade tariffs, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said this week,...
The Commission said the U.S. action undermines ongoing efforts to reach a negotiated agreement. BRUSSELS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The...
Riga [Latvia], May 31 (ANI): The Indian diaspora in Latvia organised a 'Sindoor Samman' event in Riga to welcome Group 6 of the all-party...
Riga [Latvia], May 31 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi on Friday (local time), who is leading an all-party delegation...
WASHINGTON -- A US district judge on May 30 granted Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys (RFE/RL)s third request for a temporary restraining...
GENEVA, Switzerland: A massive glacier collapse in the Swiss Alps sent a torrent of ice, mud, and rock crashing into the evacuated...
ANKARA, Turkey: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week that he has appointed a group of legal experts to begin drafting...
BEIJING, China: Six people are still missing and rescue teams continued their search on May 28 after a powerful explosion at a chemical...
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Starting June 1, Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes has issued a new set of rules for the city's beaches that...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant shift to federal vaccine guidance, the U.S. government will no longer recommend routine COVID-19...
KATHMANDU, Nepal: Using xenon gas treatment and new technology is making climbing Mount Everest faster and better for the environment...