Swiss Village Buried: Glacier Collapse Leaves One Missing

Glacier Collapse in Blatten, Switzerland: One Missing, Village Destroyed. A section of the Birch Glacier in the Swiss village of Blatten collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, May 28, 2025, triggering a devastating landslide. The event sent a massive wave of ice, mud, and rock down into the Lötschental valley. "It was terrifying," said one local resident who witnessed the event from a safe distance. "The whole mountain seemed to be coming down." The landslide has caused significant damage, with authorities estimating that approximately 90 percent of the village, which had been partially evacuated earlier this month due to concerns about glacial instability, has been destroyed. One person remains missing, and search and rescue operations are underway. The incident has raised serious concerns about the impact of climate change on glacial stability in the region. Experts warn that similar events could occur in the future as glaciers continue to melt at an alarming rate. While the immediate aftermath is devastating, the resilience of the community and the ongoing search efforts offer a glimmer of hope amidst the destruction.