Blatten’s glacier collapse, Switzerland very-high resolution satellite image

On May 28, 2025, the Swiss village of Blatten, located in the Lötschental valley in the Valais canton, was devastated by a massive rock and ice landslide triggered by the collapse of the Birch glacier. Approximately 90% of the village was buried under a debris cone stretching 2 kilometres long and 200 metres wide.  

Millions of tons of ice, rock and mud fell towards the village situated at an altitude of 1,500 metres, forming an artificial lake. Thanks to early warning systems, all 300 residents had been safely and swiftly evacuated a few days before the disaster struck. At this time, one person remains missing. Local authorities are closely monitoring this newly formed lake and the rising water level of the Lonza River currently blocked by debris. The blockage poses a significant flood risk to the Lötschental valley.