Swiss Glacier Collapse Buries Village, Triggers Flooding, One Missing

On May 28, 2025, the Birch Glacier in southwestern Switzerland collapsed, triggering a massive avalanche of rock, ice, and debris that buried most of the village of Blatten and dammed the Lonza River, causing flooding. Authorities had evacuated approximately 300 residents days earlier due to signs of instability, but a 64-year-old man remains missing. Scientists link the collapse to a combination of factors including the weight of rockfall on the glacier, melting at the base, and broader climate change effects such as rising temperatures, permafrost thawing, and glacier retreat in the Alps. This event is part of a troubling trend of glacier collapses in Europe, where warming is accelerating glacier retreat and destabilizing mountain slopes, increasing the risk of similar disasters. The World Meteorological Organisation emphasized the urgent need for enhanced glacier monitoring and early warning systems worldwide to better forecast and mitigate such hazards. While the Blatten collapse was exceptional, experts warn that awareness and preparedness are crucial as climate change continues to heighten risks in mountain regions.