On Wednesday, the village of Blatten in the Swiss Alps was buried after a glacier collapsed onto the town. The Birch Glacier, located in the Lötschental valley of Switzerland, released millions of pounds of debris, burying about 90% of the village.
Due to warnings from scientists monitoring the glaciers' movements, all 300 residents were safely evacuated from the town on May 19th. Even their livestock was rescued as helicopters airlifted them to safety. Despite the evacuation, authorities say they are still on the lookout for a 64-year-old man who has been missing since the event, however, searches are currently suspended due to unsafe conditions.
The collapse has also raised concerns over the River Lonza, which runs through the Lötschental valley. The buildup of debris has caused severe flooding from the river, leading to the formation of a lake that is now overtaking the remaining buildings in Blatten.
Experts believe the event was brought about due to climate change, citing rising temperatures that have led to the continued thawing of permafrost, which is essentially the glue that keeps the mountain rock stable. As the permafrost melts, mountains and glaciers become more unstable, and instances like this become more common. Switzerland saw 6% of its total glacier volume disappear in 2022, and then 4% in 2023. Since 2000, glaciers in Switzerland have lost 40% of their total glacier volume.