Workers cross fingers for fortune amid poor weather conditions: rainwater diverts away
A catastrophe unfolds in the Lötschental valley of the Swiss Alps as a colossal debris cone, spawned by a rockslide and glacier collapse, threatens the surrounding villages.
The debris cone, formed from ice and rock, buried much of Blatten, a small village with around 300 residents. Fortunately, evacuations were carried out earlier, averting loss of life. However, one local resident is still unaccounted for after the disaster on May 28, 2025.
Initial fears of a flooding wave or landslide surging into the valley subsided as the water has begun to flow in orderly channels, albeit slowly. Experts assess no immediate danger for the villages below, but the situation remains tenuous.
"A first channel is forming," said Christian Studer of the Natural Hazards Service during a press conference in Ferden. Drone footage reveals a trickle of water weaving its way through the approximately 2-kilometer-long debris cone, while further down the Lonza riverbed, water is steadily flowing. This subtle movement suggests that water is seeping through the debris, offering a glimmer of hope.
Experts flying over the area at around 1,500 meters above sea level express cautious optimism, but the unpredictability persists. Around nine million cubic meters of material occupy the valley floor, with a third of it likely being ice from the Birsch glacier. Melting is anticipated but not expedited due to the vast quantity of debris.
The greater risk arises from further collapses at the Kleine Nesthorn above 3,000 meters, which triggered this disaster. The terrain here is steep, increasing the risk of landslides. Rainfall is another concern, as weather forecasts predict bad weather from Sunday onwards.
For the municipalities of Gampel and Steg, located around 20 kilometers downstream from Blatten, the situation has developed more positively, according to Stéphane Ganzer, a member of the cantonal government of Wallis. Nonetheless, the risk lingers, decreasing but still present. Residents have been advised to pack essentials in preparation for a potential evacuation.
Ferden, lying between Blatten and Gampel, boasts a dam and retention basin. Water has already been released there, offering hope that the basin can accommodate larger volumes of water if they arrive rapidly. The nearby village of Wiler and Kippel, however, remain evacuated as a precaution.
In the wreckage of the disaster, Memorials of a homely village are carried in the minds and hearts of its inhabitants. "We can't rebuild the old Blatten, but we want to rebuild Blatten anew," said Matthias Bellwald, the president of the municipality of Blatten, referring to these challenging times. The location of the new Blatten has yet to be decided.
Cleanup and rescue operations are on hold, as the terrain remains too unstable for heavy machinery or rescue teams to navigate safely. Nevertheless, the army stands ready to intervene as soon as conditions permit, with initial deployments potentially starting at the edge of the disaster area soon.
In the lake formed by the flooded houses, debris has begun to accumulate. Authorities are contemplating setting up a debris retention facility there to prevent another blockage.
The situation remains precarious, with officials closely monitoring developments and prioritizing evacuation and protective measures for the local population.
- The unfolding catastrophe in the Lötschental valley involves both rockslide debris and ice from the environmental-science field of glacier climate-change.
- The debris cone formed after the disaster on May 28, 2025, buries a small village called Blatten, a subject of general-news coverage.
- Although no immediate danger is predicted for the villages lower down the valley, experts remain cautious due to the presence of further potential accidents in the form of landslides.
- According to weather-forecasting predictions, rainfall is a concern, adding to the unpredictability of the situation and the potential for flooding or landslides.
