Overview

• On May 28 a massive collapse of the Birch Glacier unleashed millions of cubic meters of ice, rock and mud onto the evacuated village of Blatten, covering about 90% of its structures.
• Geologists had warned of an imminent landslide after cracks appeared in the glacier, prompting the evacuation of roughly 300 residents and their livestock on May 19.
• Authorities report one person missing and affirm that the early evacuation likely prevented fatalities.
• The collapse reflects broader Alpine glacier instability driven by rising temperatures that shrank Swiss glacier volume by 10% from 2022 to 2023.
• The Swiss army’s disaster relief unit has been deployed and the government has promised funding while preparing a satellite-based system to monitor future ground movements.