A shocking natural disaster struck Switzerland when a massive landslide buried the small village of Blatten. The tragedy, caused by a collapsing glacier, destroyed homes that had stood for over 600 years. Now, experts warn that the nearby town of Kandersteg could be next in line.
A Village Lost in Seconds
On May 28, Lukas Kalbermatten-Ritler watched helplessly as his hometown of Blatten disappeared under falling rocks and ice. He was recording with his phone but stopped when he saw the destruction unfold. “It looked like a bomb exploded,” he said. His family’s historic Hotel Edelweiss was also lost in the landslide.
- The landslide lasted just 28 seconds.
- Over 328 million cubic feet of rock and ice fell.
- The impact was so powerful that it caused a 3.1 magnitude earthquake.
- The mud and debris covered centuries-old wooden houses.
This event has now become one of the most powerful natural disasters in recent Alpine history.
Kandersteg May Be Next
Experts are very worried about Spitze Stei, a mountain above Kandersteg. If the outer rock layer collapses, it could dump over 700 million cubic feet of stone into Lake Oeschinen. This could create a wave that travels 2.5 miles, possibly flooding 25% of the town.
This includes homes, hotels, and even schools. Safety dams are in place, but some models predict the debris might go over them.
Despite the danger, most of the town’s 1,300 residents have not moved. As one local expert, Markus Stoffel, said, “Mountain people are tough. They won’t leave unless the government tells them to.”
Scientists Watching Closely
In 2018, a paraglider noticed a crack on Spitze Stei. This discovery led to intense monitoring using drones, radar, GPS, and cameras.
- Water from melting snow and rain builds up in cracks.
- The melting of permafrost—frozen ground that holds rocks together—is making mountains unstable.
- Scientists say more landslides are expected in the coming years.
Felix Pfluger, a landslide expert from the Technical University of Munich, warns that the Alps are becoming more dangerous due to global warming.
Warming Temperatures Are the Main Cause
Experts agree that the biggest reason for these disasters is climate change. As the Earth gets warmer due to greenhouse gases, ice inside the mountains melts. This makes the rock walls weaker and increases the chances of landslides and avalanches.
“In the next few years and decades, we expect more rockfalls due to melting permafrost,” Pfluger said.
This is especially dangerous in populated Alpine areas, unlike remote regions such as Alaska or Siberia, where similar disasters often go unnoticed.
Other Recent Tragedies
Blatten isn’t the only village affected:
- In Brienz/Brinzauls, residents had to evacuate four times due to landslide threats.
- In 2017, eight hikers and ten homes in Bondo valley were lost in a deadly landslide.
These incidents show how Alpine communities are at growing risk from natural disasters caused by environmental changes.
Breaking News from Switzerland highlights how climate change is not a distant problem—it is happening now and affecting lives. The collapse of a glacier buried an entire village in seconds, and experts warn that another town could face a similar fate.
