CaughtUp 
Devastation in the Swiss Alps: The village of Blatten in Valais was wiped out after the Birch Glacier—loaded with rock and debris—broke away and thundered down the mountainside, burying everything in its path. Thanks to early warnings from scientists, all 300 residents and even livestock were evacuated just days before disaster struck. But the destruction is immense: a mile-long mass of ice and rock now fills the valley, a river is blocked and forming a dangerous new lake, and one man remains missing as search efforts are on hold due to hazardous conditions.
Experts say the collapse was fueled by climate change, as melting permafrost led to increased rockfalls and instability. Swiss officials called it “the absolute worst-case scenario,” but the mayor of Blatten remains hopeful: “We may have lost our village, but our lives remain intact. We will support one another and rebuild. Everything is possible.”
👇 Sending support to Blatten. Drop a 🏔️ if you’re thinking of the community, or share your thoughts below.
#Switzerland #Blatten #GlacierCollapse #ClimateChange #Alps #NaturalDisaster #BirchGlacier #NPR #TheCaughtUp
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