A massive glacial collapse in the Swiss Alps has obliterated the village of Blatten in the Loetschental valley, leaving one person missing and the community buried under a torrent of ice, mud, and rock.

The disaster struck Wednesday, following weeks of geological warnings about instability in the mountain above the glacier.

Swiss authorities confirmed that approximately 300 residents were evacuated days prior due to fears of an imminent rockslide. Drone footage broadcast by SRF revealed a harrowing scene: an expansive debris field covering 90% of Blatten, submerging the local river and blanketing the valley’s wooded slopes.

“We’ve lost our village,” Mayor Matthias Bellwald said at a press conference. “The village is under rubble. We will rebuild.” Local spokesperson Matthias Ebener described the landslide as an “unbelievable” deluge that roared into the valley. The identity of the missing individual has not been released.

Geologists had been monitoring the mountain’s instability since May 19, noting millions of cubic meters of shifting rock and soil that ultimately triggered the glacier’s collapse. Social media footage captured the moment of impact, showing a dense cloud of debris engulfing the village, with remnants of wooden alpine homes scattered amid the wreckage.

Experts point to climate change as a contributing factor. “The loss of permafrost affects mountain stability,” said Christian Huggel, a professor at the University of Zurich. “So climate change probably contributed to this disaster.” He noted that the scale of destruction is unprecedented in the Swiss Alps in over a century.

Emergency services have sealed off the Loetschental valley due to ongoing hazards, and authorities are urging the public to avoid the area. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter expressed solidarity on X, stating, “It’s terrible to lose your home.”

SRF reports that Blatten’s infrastructure is almost entirely destroyed, leaving behind a muddy wasteland where the historic alpine village once stood. Recovery efforts are underway as the community grapples with the loss. (ILKHA)