Villagers in Blatten, Switzerland, were evacuated earlier this month after authorities warned a nearby glacier was on the brink of collapse – one of many becoming less stable as global temperature rise
By Madeleine Cuff
28 May 2025 Last updated 28 May 2025
The Birch glacier caused an avalanche of ice, snow, water and rocks as the leading edge collapsed
JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
A huge portion of a glacier in the Swiss Alps has broken off from the mountainside, sending rock, mud and ice crashing onto the village of Blatten.
Authorities have been warning of a potential collapse of the Birch glacier for weeks now as cracks appeared in the ice. Earlier this month, villagers and livestock were evacuated from Blatten, which sits in the valley below the glacier and is home to around 300 people.
Webcam and drone images from 28 May show enormous plumes of dust billowing into the Alpine valley as the glacier collapsed, with a huge wave of mud and boulders covering the hillsides and most of the village.
Advertisement
There are no reports of casualties, although one person has been reported missing, according to a press conference held in a neighbouring village on 28 May. The village of Blatten is now largely buried under rubble. The glacier collapse caused an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale, according to seismic data.
Images from the site suggest that in addition to the village, huge swathes of forest have also been destroyed and debris has blocked the nearby Lonza river, increasing the risk of flooding to the area.
“Nature is stronger than man. The mountain people know that. But today we experienced an extraordinary event. The event has left us speechless, and it’s shocking to see the images,” said Federal Councillor Albert Rösti during the press conference, according to the Swiss outlet Blick.