Swiss Glacier Collapse Destroys Village, Man Missing

A massive collapse of the Birch Glacier in the Swiss Alps caused a devastating landslide that buried about 90% of the village of Blatten under rock, ice, and mud, prompting an evacuation of around 300 residents and livestock earlier this month. A 64-year-old man remains missing after the event, despite extensive search and rescue efforts involving drones, thermal cameras, the army, and airlifted specialists. The debris from the landslide has blocked the nearby Lonza River, creating a risk of flooding due to a potentially dammed water flow, which adds to concerns about further disaster. Swiss officials and experts have expressed shock at the scale of the destruction and have linked the glacier's collapse to permafrost degradation and rising temperatures in the Alps, with climate change considered a significant contributing factor to the accelerated retreat of glaciers in recent years. The incident highlights Switzerland's ongoing struggle with glacier melt and the associated risks to Alpine communities, as the country lost 4% of its glacier volume in 2023 following a 6% loss in 2022. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with fears that the conditions could worsen.