Major Glacier Collapse and Landslide Strike Blatten, Switzerland

Blatten is a small and charming mountain village in the Valais canton of Switzerland. The village lies in the Lötschental Valley and is renowned for natural scenic charm alongside proximity to ski resorts. It is also close to the world-famous Aletsch Glacier.

A devastating natural disaster struck the village on May 28, 2025. A glacier one of the many in the region suddenly collapsed, resulting in a colossal landslide that buried big sections of the village under debris. A person is missing, and search and rescue missions are ongoing.

Experts say that disasters like these are caused by global warming and fast melting of glaciers. Global warming has also been growing glacier melting as well as related natural hazards in Switzerland in recent years.

Blatten is otherwise a peaceful and scenic place that is well-known for outdoor recreation activities like climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. The event, however, serves to remind us of how fragile the balance of nature is and how it showcases the impacts of global warming