Swiss Village Buried: 90% of Blatten Destroyed by Glacier Collapse

Blatten, Switzerland, is reeling from a catastrophic landslide that has buried 90% of the village under tons of debris. The disaster, triggered by the collapse of a massive section of a glacier on Wednesday, has left residents heartbroken and authorities scrambling for solutions. "We've lost our village. The village is under rubble," said Blatten Mayor Matthias Bellwald, expressing the devastation felt throughout the community. Hundreds of people and livestock were evacuated in the days leading up to the collapse, thanks to warnings from glaciologists who had foreseen the potential for such a disaster. Raphael Mayoraz, Chief of the Natural Hazards Office, stated that "this worst-case scenario has happened," highlighting the unprecedented nature of the event. As of Thursday, a 64-year-old man remains missing, and a search and rescue operation is underway. The incident underscores the growing concerns about the effects of global warming on Switzerland's glaciers, with 4% of the country's total glacier volume disappearing in 2023 alone. Despite the tragedy, the community is showing remarkable resilience. Mayor Bellwald expressed confidence that they will receive the support needed to rebuild their village. The international community is rallying to help Blatten recover from this devastating event.