Overview

• The Birch Glacier collapsed on May 28 in the Lötschental valley, devastating the largely evacuated village of Blatten.
• A 64-year-old resident remains missing despite aerial and drone search efforts by specialised teams.
• Millions of cubic metres of ice and rock formed a natural dam on the Lonza River, creating a two-kilometre lake that continues to swell.
• Officials now assess an abrupt dam collapse as unlikely and warn that overflow or gradual water release could still flood downstream valleys.
• The Swiss army has been mobilised to pump out water, clear debris and install lighting while authorities finalise evacuation plans for at-risk communities.