A natural dam formed by ice, boulders, and debris is now blocking the Lonza River, creating a dangerous water buildup behind the barrier. Experts are warning that a sudden breach could trigger a devastating flood wave or debris flow, threatening lives and infrastructure in the area.
Natural Ice and Rock Dam Traps Water, Raising Alarm Over Potential Flood
After the glacier broke apart, a large accumulation of ice and rock cascaded into the valley, clogging the Lonza River’s path and forming a dam-like barrier. Behind it, a substantial volume of water has gathered. According to geoscience experts, if this unstable formation collapses, the outcome could be catastrophic.
Michael Krautblatter, professor of landslide research at the Technical University of Munich, explained to Bavarian public broadcaster BR:
“Many assume the worst is over after the initial landslide, but we are still in an extremely dangerous situation. The accumulated water must be drained in a controlled way before it bursts out on its own.”
Krautblatter stressed the risk of “slosh waves”—sudden, forceful surges that can follow landslides and cause immense damage in a matter of hours or days.
Evacuations Begin as Villages Face Destruction
Authorities have evacuated multiple homes in two hamlets in anticipation of further events. In the village of Blatten, drone footage reveals scenes of devastation, with much of the area buried under a thick layer of debris. A few buildings remain standing, but the rising Lonza has already flooded the surrounding land.
Emergency responders are working under extreme pressure. Krautblatter emphasized the complexity of the crisis: “Rescue teams are dealing with an extremely challenging and emotionally taxing situation. A second wave could easily surpass the destruction already seen.”
Residents in Shock After Losing Everything
For the residents of Lötschental, the disaster has upended their lives. Beat Rieder, a Swiss lawmaker from nearby Wiler, described it as a “once-in-a-century catastrophe” during an interview with Swiss television.
“This valley has never seen anything like it in its history. People have lost everything they built over decades.”
In Ried, just one kilometer from Blatten, local resident Daniel Ritler told news portal 20 Minuten:
“Everything was gone in seconds. From the air, my farm and house were completely unrecognizable—it looked like a moonscape.”
The Swiss platform Pomona captured the emotional toll with the headline: “A Valley in Mourning.”
Uncertain Future for Homes and Personal Belongings
While the structural integrity of most buried homes is believed to be beyond repair, Krautblatter expressed hope that some personal items might still be recovered.
“It may be possible to dig out certain buildings enough to retrieve keepsakes, but the damage to the structures themselves is likely irreversible.”
Climate Change Tied to Rising Alpine Hazards
The collapse occurred at an altitude of 3,340 meters near the Kleines Nesthorn—an elevation where climate change is rapidly altering the environment.
“This is exactly the altitude where we’re seeing an increase in rockfalls,” Krautblatter noted. “It’s a textbook sign of melting permafrost.”
As temperatures rise, ice that holds alpine rock together begins to melt, weakening the terrain and allowing meltwater to seep deep into fractures. These combined effects drastically heighten the risk of sudden rock avalanches.
“In the Alps, we’re now witnessing hundreds of such incidents that can be clearly linked to thawing permafrost,” Krautblatter added.
Monitoring Permafrost on Germany’s Highest Peak
While permafrost is only found at high elevations in Bavaria, the phenomenon is being actively studied on Germany’s tallest mountain, the Zugspitze. Krautblatter and his team are monitoring internal rock temperatures, which have warmed from –1.2°C to –0.7°C over the past decade.
To better predict rockfalls, researchers at the Technical University of Munich are developing geophysical instruments capable of scanning up to 30 meters into rock formations. A specially designed freezing lab is also being built to more accurately simulate the effects of climate change on alpine rock.
Source: With reporting from Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
Latest Posts
