Glacier collapse buries Swiss village days after evacuation

Mud and ice engulf evacuated Swiss village in Alps disaster

Robert Besser
31 May 2025, 22:56 GMT+10

Glacier collapse buries Swiss village days after evacuation

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
It engulfed 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

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.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Belgium Sun.

More Information

null in null

Europe

Section

WWII heroes visit Normandy, say freedom still worth fighting for

D-day veterans return to Normandy 81 years later to honor freedom

OMAHA BEACH, France: Eighty-one years after the D-Day landings, a small group of World War II veterans has returned to the beaches...

European Union jumps to defence of International Criminal Court

Rubio vows to stand by Israel following ICC sanctions, UN Security Council veto

THE HAGUE - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has strongly condemned the United States for imposing sanctions on four of its judges,...

Ireland sees warmest spring in 126 years, says Met Éireann

Spring 2025 breaks heat and sunshine records in Ireland

DUBLIN, Ireland: Spring 2025 was the warmest and sunniest spring in Ireland since records began, according to Met Éireann. It had the...

Violent tourist devoured biometric data page, Dublin court told

Tourist hit Dublin airport official, ate passport page, court hears

DUBLIN, Ireland: A tourist tore out and ate the page of his passport containing his biometric data after attacking an immigration officer...

German cabinet backs major tax relief plan for 2025–2029

Germany approves 46 billion euros in tax cuts to boost investment

BERLIN, Germany: Germany has taken its first significant fiscal step to jumpstart its slowing economy. This week, the cabinet approved...

Summer travel slows as Americans hunt for last-minute bargains

Cautious Americans delay summer travel, await better deals

WASHINGTON, D.C. Forget bucket lists; this summer, it's all about budget lists. Amid economic uncertainty and a weaker dollar, Americans...

International

Section

China bureaucrat bottlenecks over rare earths ripple through industry

Few Chinese officials now decide the fate of global EV production

BEIJING, China: A little-known office inside China's Ministry of Commerce has become a powerful chokepoint in the global auto and tech...

WWII heroes visit Normandy, say freedom still worth fighting for

D-day veterans return to Normandy 81 years later to honor freedom

OMAHA BEACH, France: Eighty-one years after the D-Day landings, a small group of World War II veterans has returned to the beaches...

China offers secret bounty for suspected Taiwan-linked hackers

China issues bounty for hackers it says are linked to Taiwan

BEIJING, China: The public security bureau in Guangzhou, a city in China, has announced a secret reward for more than 20 people it...

European Union jumps to defence of International Criminal Court

Rubio vows to stand by Israel following ICC sanctions, UN Security Council veto

THE HAGUE - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has strongly condemned the United States for imposing sanctions on four of its judges,...

More US teens turning to Wegovy as obesity rates climb

Wegovy use among US teens rises 50 percent amid obesity surge

LOS ANGELES, California: As obesity rates among American teenagers climb to historic levels, more families and doctors are cautiously...

German cabinet backs major tax relief plan for 2025–2029

Germany approves 46 billion euros in tax cuts to boost investment

BERLIN, Germany: Germany has taken its first significant fiscal step to jumpstart its slowing economy. This week, the cabinet approved...

Movie Review

Eve's Bayou (4K UHD) [Blu-Ray]