On May 28, 2025, the picturesque Swiss village of Blatten, nestled in the Lötschental valley of Valais canton, was nearly obliterated when the Birch Glacier collapsed, unleashing a catastrophic landslide. Approximately 90% of the village, including 130 buildings and its historic church, was buried under an estimated 10 million cubic meters of ice, rock, and debris. The seismic impact of the event was comparable to a magnitude 3.1 earthquake.
Signs of instability were first detected on May 14, when large cracks appeared in the Kleines Nesthorn peak above the glacier. Subsequent rockfalls accelerated the glacier’s movement, prompting authorities to evacuate 92 residents on May 17. By May 19, all 300 inhabitants, along with livestock—including a limping cow named Loni—were safely relocated. This proactive evacuation likely prevented mass casualties.
The landslide dammed the Lonza River, creating a new lake and raising concerns about potential downstream flooding. Villages like Wiler and Kippel were partially evacuated as a precaution. While some water has begun to flow back into the river, the risk of further flooding remains. The Swiss army is on standby with heavy equipment to address any emergencies.
Despite the successful evacuation, one 64-year-old man remains missing. Search efforts have been suspended due to hazardous conditions. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter visited the site on May 30, pledging government support for the affected residents. The Swiss Insurance Association estimates the destruction could cost hundreds of millions of Swiss francs, though the extent of insurance coverage for the damaged properties is unclear.
Experts attribute the disaster to climate change, noting that glacial melt rates in the Alps have drastically increased in recent years. In Switzerland, glaciers lost 6% of their volume in 2022 and 4% in 2023. The accelerated thawing destabilizes mountain slopes, increasing the risk of such catastrophic events.
The tragedy in Blatten underscores the urgent need for climate action, improved early warning systems, and strategic relocation planning for at-risk communities. As global temperatures rise, the frequency and severity of such natural disasters are expected to increase, posing significant challenges for alpine regions worldwide.
