Swiss Glacier Collapse: Man Missing, Village Devastated
- Rescue teams are searching for a 64-year-old man who whent missing after a massive landslide, triggered by a glacier collapse, struck a Swiss mountainside.The incident occurred near Blatten,...
- The landslide, stemming from a chunk of the Birch Glacier breaking off, sent plumes of dust into the air and buried the Lonza River bed.Authorities had evacuated approximately...
- The Cantonal Police of Valais are using a drone equipped with a thermal camera in the search for the missing man,whose identity has not been released.
A 64-year-old man is missing after a catastrophic glacier collapse triggered a devastating landslide near Blatten, Switzerland.Rescue teams are tirelessly searching the Alpine village, now buried under mud and debris. the incident, a result of the Birch Glacier’s instability, has already destroyed much of Blatten, an area evacuated earlier due to glacier thaw concerns. Authorities are employing drones wiht thermal cameras to locate the missing person, while the Swiss police are managing the search, and the aftermath unfolds. This alarming event highlights the accelerating impact of climate change on the Swiss Alps.Glaciologists are expressing deep concern over the shrinking glaciers, with significant volume loss recorded in recent years. news Directory 3 will continue reporting on the rescue efforts. Discover what’s next as we follow the unfolding situation.
Swiss Glacier Collapse: Search Continues for Missing Man
Updated May 29, 2025
Rescue teams are searching for a 64-year-old man who whent missing after a massive landslide, triggered by a glacier collapse, struck a Swiss mountainside.The incident occurred near Blatten, in the Lötschental valley, coating the Alpine village in mud and debris.
The landslide, stemming from a chunk of the Birch Glacier breaking off, sent plumes of dust into the air and buried the Lonza River bed.Authorities had evacuated approximately 300 residents and livestock from Blatten earlier in May due to concerns about the unstable glacier. State Councilor Stéphane Ganzer told Radio Télévision Suisse that the destruction impacted 90% of the village.
The Cantonal Police of Valais are using a drone equipped with a thermal camera in the search for the missing man,whose identity has not been released. Social media footage and Swiss television broadcasts showed homes partially submerged in the brownish sludge.
Swiss glaciologists have voiced increasing alarm about the accelerated thaw of glaciers, attributing it largely to global warming. Switzerland, home to the most glaciers in Europe, witnessed a 4% reduction in its total glacier volume in 2023, following a 6% drop in 2022.
What’s next
Authorities will continue search and rescue operations while monitoring the stability of the remaining glacier and assessing the potential for dammed water flows in the lonza River.