Glacier collapse covers Swiss village
World
A collapsing glacier has smothered a Swiss mountain village in a torrent of ice, mud and rock.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Switzerland's glacier collapse: How a village vanished and what it means for the future
On May 28, 2025, the tranquil Swiss village of Blatten in the Lötschental Valley was dramatically transformed when a massive landslide, triggered by the collapse of the Birch Glacier, buried approximately 90% of the community under mud, ice, and rock. Fortunately, due to earlier warnings about visible cracks in the glacier, residents had been evacuated about ten days prior, preventing a greater tragedy. However, one 64-year-old man remains missing, and search efforts have been suspended due to hazardous conditions. The collapse not only devastated Blatten but also blocked the Lonza River, creating a natural dam and a new lake, raising concerns about potential downstream flooding in neighboring villages like Gampel and Steg. The Swiss army is on standby with heavy equipment to mitigate the situation, and authorities continue to enforce safety measures. Experts attribute the disaster to climate change, noting that rising temperatures have led to accelerated glacier melting and destabilization. Switzerland's glaciers have lost 10% of their volume over the past two years alone, with 6% lost in 2022 and 4% in 2023. This rapid loss is equivalent to the total depletion between 1960 and 1990. People have shared the horrific aftermath of the glacier collapse. The collapse of the Birch Glacier in Switzerland isn't just a one-off disaster — it's part of a much bigger, scarier trend: the thawing of long-frozen ice deposits all across the Alps. Glaciers aren't just giant piles of snow and ice sitting pretty in postcards. They're ancient, slow-moving rivers of ice that hold climate history, regulate ecosystems, and feed entire water systems. But right now, they're melting — and fast. Due to global warming, temperatures in alpine regions are rising at nearly double the global average. That means permafrost, the frozen ground beneath glaciers and rocky peaks, is starting to thaw. And when that happens, it's like pulling the pins out of a massive mountain Jenga game. The frozen 'glue' that holds rocks and ice together melts, making landslides, rockfalls, and ice collapses much more likely — just like what we saw in Blatten. Thawing also means water from glaciers is released too quickly, forming sudden lakes and unstable dams. These can burst, causing flash floods downstream. And if that wasn't enough, the melt also affects water supplies for millions across Europe who rely on glaciers to regulate rivers in summer. Scientists say that if current trends continue, Switzerland could lose many of its glaciers by the end of this century. The thaw is irreversible in many areas — once the ice is gone, it's gone. What's left behind are unstable landscapes, crumbling peaks, and a deeply altered climate future. This isn't just about losing pretty views; it's about losing stability, security, and balance in entire ecosystems. In short: thawing glaciers are nature's giant warning signs — and they're flashing red.
Epoch Times
3 hours ago
- Epoch Times
Search Suspended for Missing Man in Swiss Glacier Collapse That Destroyed 90 Percent of an Alpine Village
GENEVA—The search for a missing 64-year-old man was suspended Thursday because of unsafe conditions after a huge mass of rock and ice from a glacier crashed down a Swiss mountainside the day before. The landslide sent plumes of dust skyward and coated with mud nearly all of an Alpine village that authorities had evacuated earlier this month as a precaution. State Councilor Stéphane Ganzer told Radio Télévision Suisse that 90 percent of the village was destroyed.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
China sets up int'l mediation body in HK
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis pose for a photograph after a signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of The International Organization for Mediation in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters Listen to article China signed a convention setting up an international organisation for mediation in Hong Kong on Friday that Beijing hopes will be on par with the International Court of Justice and bolster the city's international credentials. The move comes amid growing geopolitical tensions that have been exacerbated by US President Donald Trump's global trade war and fuelled risks of a sharp worldwide economic downturn. Pakistan became a co-signatory to the IOMed, a statement by the Foreign Office said. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar signed the convention establishing the organisation during a ceremony attended by officials from several countries, including Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Serbia. Representatives from around 20 international organisations, including the United Nations, were also expected to participate, according to Hong Kong's public broadcaster RTHK. "IOMeD also offers new opportunities and fresh hopes to build a more inclusive, more just and more equitable world. As one of the founding members of IOMed, Pakistan would continue to be an active voice in this noble mission," the statement quoted him as saying. Speaking at the high-profile gathering, Dar lauded the visionary leadership of the People's Republic of China for spearheading the creation of IOMed. He hailed China for once again leading a transformative initiativecomparable in impact to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The DPM underlined that Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution by becoming a founding member of the newly established International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). Senator Dar described the establishment of IOMed as "the birth of an important global institution dedicated to mediation and peaceful dispute resolution," and commended the selection of Hong Kong as the organization's headquarters. Calling the city a "super connector," he noted its symbolic value in bridging East and West. Reiterating Pakistan's dedication to the principles of the UN Charter and international law, Dar highlighted the country's recent efforts, including the establishment of the International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC) in Pakistan, aimed at advancing commercial dispute resolution. The Foreign Minister also used the platform to draw attention to pressing global conflicts, citing unresolved issues such as Jammu and Kashmir and the occupied Palestinian territories, and warned against the rise of unilateralism and populism. The mediation body aims to cement Hong Kong's presence as a top centre to resolve disputes between countries, leader John Lee said earlier this week, adding that it's status would be on par with the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration of the United Nations in The Hague. Indonesia, Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia and Serbia were among the countries attending the signing ceremony. Representatives from 20 international bodies including the United Nations were also expected to join, public broadcaster RTHK said.
