• A massive glacier collapse has buried 90% of the Swiss village of Blatten.
• One person remains missing, while search efforts have been temporarily halted due to unstable conditions.
• Authorities are monitoring flood risks caused by a river blockage from the debris.
• Climate change impacts on glacier stability are highlighted as a major concern.
• Residents had been evacuated prior, preventing greater loss of life.

A catastrophic glacier collapse in the Swiss Alps has largely destroyed the village of Blatten, burying approximately 90% of the community under ice, mud, and rock. The incident, which occurred on May 28, 2025, was predicted as authorities had evacuated the village weeks prior due to visible cracks in the Birch Glacier. While the evacuation spared many lives, a local resident, a 64-year-old man, remains missing. Search operations have been suspended owing to hazardous conditions, according to Le Monde and Dawn.

The collapse occurred around 3:30 PM local time, releasing about three million cubic meters of debris that not only buried the hamlet but also blocked the River Lonza, creating a natural dam and raising concerns of potential flooding. The water level behind the debris is increasing rapidly, prompting local authorities to prepare for possible further evacuations downstream, including the villages of Gampel and Steg, as reported by Reuters and India Times.

The devastating event has drawn attention to the accelerated melting of glaciers worldwide due to climate change, which has significantly destabilized the region's glacial dynamics. According to scientists, the Birch Glacier's extraordinary collapse is indicative of the larger trend affecting the Swiss Alps, where glaciers have lost 10% of their volume over the last two years alone. This rapid loss is linked to rising temperatures that have made alpine environments increasingly unstable, as discussed widely in reports from India Times and NPR.

Following the collapse, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter expressed solidarity with the residents of Blatten, emphasizing the dangerous reality of climate-related disasters. Authorities have mobilized the Swiss army with heavy equipment to assist in emergency operations, while the future of the valley remains uncertain due to the evolving threat of flooding and additional rockfalls. Public safety remains a priority as they assess the situation and bolster infrastructure to manage the aftermath, as indicated by India Times and Dawn.