Swiss Glacier Collapse Buries Mountain Village, Earthquake-Force Avalanche

Blatten, a village in southern Switzerland, was nearly buried by a massive avalanche triggered by the collapse of the Birch Glacier. Evacuation orders, issued a week prior due to glacier instability, prevented any casualties. The sheer force of the avalanche registered as a 3.1 magnitude earthquake. "The situation is terrible," said Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, expressing sympathy for displaced residents. While no injuries have been reported, emergency crews continue to monitor the area for missing persons. The event underscores the growing threat of glacial melt in the Alps, a concern highlighted by NASA and Swiss data showing significant glacier retreat in recent decades. The rapid melting of glaciers globally contributes to rising sea levels and climate change.