A massive landslide triggered by a glacier collapse in the Alps has buried 90% of a mountain village in Switzerland.
According to Reuters and others on the 28th (local time), a landslide struck the village of Blatten in the southern Swiss canton of Valais, and at least one person is missing. Fortunately, thanks to the landslide warning system, about 300 residents of Blatten evacuated on the 19th. However, most of the dwellings were completely destroyed.
Stefan Ganzer, a cantonal lawmaker, said in an interview with local media that "the first landslide that occurred was already enormous," and added, "At first glance, 90% of the village was covered in debris."
Drone footage released by Swiss national broadcaster SRF captured the moment around 3:30 p.m. when a massive section of the glacier in the Alps collapsed. Ice chunks, along with a massive amount of rocks and debris, poured down into the village of Blatten in Valais. The landslide was accompanied by a deafening roar, and a huge cloud of dust engulfed the area.
The Swiss government has promised to support the residents of Blatten to continue living in nearby areas even if they cannot return to their village. It appears that recovery from the damage could take several years.