6 months Ago
Glacier Crash Is Followed by Avalanche
Local officials said one of those missing might be buried under the debris. The slide followed the detachment earlier this month of a huge chunk of the Birch Glacier, which weighs about 1.5 million cubic meters, prompting the evacuation of 300 residents and livestock from the area. The mountain had already been designated as unstable, with experts alerting that there was a high likelihood of a large landslide.
The avalanche carried "unimaginable quantities of material" down the valley with a deafening roar, according to Swiss news media, including the newspaper Der Bund, destroying several homes. It is unclear how many structures have been affected.
Ongoing Danger in the Region
Officials are still monitoring the situation, and are worried that now the damaged mountaintop is weakened, more rock and ice could come tumbling down. Emergency crews are evaluating the damage and searching through the rubble to find the missing person.
