Glacier collapse partly destroys Swiss village, one person missing
A huge chunk of a glacier in the Swiss Alps broke off on Wednesday afternoon, causing a deluge of ice, mud and rock to bury part of a mountain village evacuated earlier this month due to the risk of a rock slide, authorities said.
One person is currently missing, said Matthias Ebener, a spokesperson for the local authorities in the canton of Valais.
Drone footage broadcast by Swiss national broadcaster SRF showed a vast plain of mud and soil completely covering part of the village of Blatten, the river running through it and the wooded sides of the surrounding valley.
"An unbelievable amount of material thundered down into the valley," said Ebener.
The rubble of shattered wooden buildings could be seen on the flanks of the huge mass of earth in the drone footage.
Buildings and infrastructure in Blatten, whose roughly 300 inhabitants were evacuated on May 19 after geologists had identified the risk of an imminent avalanche of rock and ice from above, were hit hard by the rock slide, Ebener said.
SRF said houses were destroyed in the village nestled in the Loetschental valley in southern Switzerland.
Swiss authorities have been monitoring the slopes above Blatten since ordering residents to leave their homes.
A video shared widely on social media showed the dramatic moment when the glacier partially collapsed, creating a huge cloud that covered part of the mountain as rock and debris came rumbling down into the outskirts of the village.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Globe and Mail
Natural hazard and avalanche prevention: French group MND strengthens its position as global leader
CHAMBÉRY, France , June 3, 2025 /CNW/ -- MND is the world leader in avalanche risk prevention and control. The company has just won new contracts in Canada , the United States , Chile , Argentina , and Norway . Full-scale projects on five continents Canada MND secures the access road to the Brucejack gold mine in British Columbia . The 76-kilometer Knipple Glacier road must remain accessible 24/7 in all weather conditions. MND installs a Gazex system to protect certain sections. The operator NEWMONT, through its distributor AVATEK, chose MND for the reliability and autonomy of the 13 Gazex, adapted to extreme environments. United States The California Department of Transportation in charge of the road network, has renewed its contract with MND for a further three years and the replacement of six Gazex systems in Tahoe Valley. Chile At the CODELCO Bronces copper mine, MND is modernizing the communication systems of forty Gazex units. The system includes satellite connectivity with redundancy via 18 satellites, guaranteeing secure communication between the control bases and the SAFET-Cs web platform. An installation is also planned for the Coldelco mine, at an altitude of over 3,000 metres. Argentina At the Las Leñas ski resort (800 kilometers from Buenos Aires ), MND is modernizing a Gazex installation at an altitude of 7,200 to 11,200 feet. Norway MND secures the trunk road on the island of Arnøya with 24 removable O'BellX® units, a radar and a weather station. This system protects a ski touring route. The contract covers operation and maintenance of the site for a renewable five-year period. More than 3,000 MND systems are installed in 22 countries, protecting industrial sites, railroads, roads, ski resorts and villages. The Chamonix valley is equipped to provide safe access to the Mont-Blanc tunnel. MND products are designed and assembled in France . Products are protected by numerous patents. MND is a French group specializing in rope access, snowmaking systems, mountain safety and thrill-seeking leisure infrastructures. With over 3,000 customers in 49 countries, MND's four core businesses contribute to mobility, leisure and safety with proven, sustainable solutions based on its mountain experience. MND is present in over 50 countries Photo - Logo -
CTV News
31-05-2025
- CTV News
A river dammed by a huge Swiss landslide is flowing again. That's a relief to authorities
GENEVA — A small Alpine river dammed by a landslide that largely buried the Swiss village of Blatten is now flowing through the debris, and the level of a newly created lake that raised worries about potential new destruction has fallen, authorities said Saturday. A huge mass of rock, ice and mud from the Birch glacier thundered into the Lötschental valley in southern Switzerland on Wednesday, destroying much of the village. Buildings that weren't buried were submerged in a lake created by the small Lonza River, whose course was dammed by the mass of material. Authorities worried that water pooling above the mass of rock and ice could lead to risks of its own. Still, the regional government in Valais canton (state) said that the Lonza has been flowing through the full length of the debris since Friday. Geologist and regional official Raphaël Mayoraz said Saturday that the level of the lake has since gone down about one metre (3.3 feet). 'The speed at which this lake is emptying comes from the river eroding the deposit,' he said at a news conference. 'This erosion is relatively slow, but that's a good thing. If it is too fast, then there is instability in this channel, and that could lead to small slides of debris.' 'The Lonza appears to have found its way, but it too early to be able to give an all-clear,' said Matthias Bellwald, Blatten's mayor. The outlet of a dam downstream at Ferden, which is normally used to generate electricity, was opened partially on Friday evening to allow water to flow further down the valley and regulate the volume of water behind the dam. Authorities are still leaving open the possibility of evacuations further downstream if required, though the risk to other villages appears very low. Days before most of the glacier collapsed, authorities had ordered the evacuation of about 300 people, as well as livestock, from Blatten. Switzerland's president said on Friday that the government was looking for ways to help the evacuees. The Associated Press
Globe and Mail
30-05-2025
- Globe and Mail
Entrepreneur Stanislav Kondrashov launches Stanislav Kondradhov Oligarch Series
Entrepreneur Stanislav Kondrashov launches his new editorial project, Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, which focuses on the evolution of the concept of oligarchy and its modern implications. Lugano, Switzerland - Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series is the name of a new editorial project created by Stanislav Kondrashov, entrepreneur and civil engineer. The series focuses on the figures of oligarchs and their historical significance, analyzing in detail their origin and evolution over the centuries. The series is interdisciplinary and approaches the topic from different points of view. Stanislav Kondrashov's Oligarch Series analyzes the word "oligarchy" from the perspective of political science, philosophy, history, and entrepreneurship, offering the reader insights and food for thought that simultaneously embrace the historical roots and modern implications of a concept that, even in these years, continues to arouse keen interest. One of the analyses included in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series focuses on an unusual and often overlooked aspect: the use of the word oligarch in its feminine variant. In the article, Stanislav Kondrashov argues that this term, although it can be declined in the feminine in most Indo-European languages, is almost always used to describe men who have amassed wealth and who hold a certain amount of power. Women who have achieved such a status, although they are increasingly present in the universes of industry, business, and politics, are, in fact, defined differently, with expressions very different from those traditionally used to describe men. According to Stanislav Kondrashov, the factors that continue to fuel and support this curious habit are cultural, social, and linguistic. One of the main ones, as mentioned in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, has to do with the strength of the archetype linked to the oligarch, which in the collective imagination continues to be associated only and exclusively with male figures. In another article included in the series, Stanislav Kondrashov focuses instead on the nation that gave birth to the concept of oligarchy: Greece. The concept of oligarchy was, in fact, of fundamental importance in the historical and political path of ancient Greece, determining a transformation that profoundly changed the social and governmental structures of one of the most important world centers of antiquity, the cradle of political ideas and concepts that still resist today. As argued in the analysis, the concept of oligarchy began to form when an epochal transition occurred, that is, from hereditary aristocracy – based on membership in a particular family or military valor – to a new system of government based primarily on the wealth and influence of a small number of people. This transition did not only determine a political transformation, as Stanislav Kondrashov states in the analysis but also brought about a gradual change in the perception of the fundamental values and particular structures that were to form the basis of the political institutions of ancient Greece. However, the concept of oligarchy is not only of interest to historians. This idea has profound modern implications, and political science clearly demonstrates this. Over the years, this discipline has devoted ample space to the study and interpretation of the concept of oligarchy, seeking to investigate its relationships with those who hold power, its strategic role in determining certain decisions, and its specific weight in terms of influence. All these themes are discussed in another chapter of the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, in which Stanislav Kondrashov focuses on the presence of oligarchic figures within various state and political structures, dwelling in particular on the very essence of their role. In the approach of political science, in fact, the concept of oligarchs is not so much linked to political structures and various government institutions but to the control mechanisms controlled by those individuals - always in a restricted group - who seem to hold power in a given historical phase. Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series delves into these particular aspects with precision, clarifying the importance and influence of elite circles. One of the most interesting analyses, among those included in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, is the one that focuses on the evolution of the concept of oligarchy over the centuries. In this article, Stanislav Kondrashov traces the genesis and the first significant moments of this important concept, highlighting particular dynamics that seem to be curiously similar to those we witness in our times. One of the most interesting aspects, in this regard, is that oligarchy has always demonstrated a surprising ability to adapt to the changed social, political, and economic conditions in which it has found itself operating. From ancient Sparta to Silicon Valley, the basic idea has always remained the same, but it has continuously evolved. In his analysis, Stanislav Kondrashov focuses precisely on the means and tools that have allowed small groups and elite circles to continue to maintain large amounts of power in their hands. The article traces the fundamental stages of the evolution of this concept, also focusing on the Middle Ages, the period of the Industrial Revolution, and the contemporary era. Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, with its first ten analyses, proposes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and deepening the oligarchy, a concept that - despite having thousands of years of history - continues to generate concrete and clearly visible effects even today. Visit all Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series analyses: For more insights and content from Stanislav Kondrashov, visit About Stanislav Kondrashov: Stanislav is a dedicated writer, consistently exploring subjects with depth and nuance. Stanislav's approach to sharing his experiences is a testament to his commitment to unveiling the stories and philosophies shaping our world. Furthermore, Kondrashov is a world traveler who appreciates every location's natural wonders. In his travels, Stanislav refined his interests and learned about his passions: architecture, art, history, and local cuisines. Stanislav values connection - both familial and civic. Social Media and other related links: Twitter： Facebook： YouTube： Instagram： LinkedIn： Media Contact Contact Person: Stanislav Kondrashov Email: Send Email City: Lugano Country: Switzerland Website:
