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3w ago

Swiss Alpine River Resumes Flow Through Glacier Debris, Easing Flood Threat

The river’s breakthrough through the debris has eased flood concerns, allowing authorities to focus on debris monitoring with aid efforts for displaced residents.

Around three million cubic metres of rock fell on top of the glacier, increasing its weight
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Overview

  • Experts link the Birch glacier’s collapse to recent rockfalls from the Kleines Nesthorn mountain driven by melting permafrost.
  • Preemptive evacuations ordered days before the May 28 landslide saved about 300 residents, though a 64-year-old man remains missing.
  • Reconnaissance flights confirmed the Lonza River has carved channels through the two-kilometer debris cone, reducing the risk of a sudden flood wave.
  • Swiss officials have paused further evacuations and are deploying construction machinery to control water flow while preparing financial and logistical aid for evacuees.
  • Glaciologists warn that rising temperatures and thawing permafrost may trigger similar glacier failures in other vulnerable mountain regions worldwide.