Latest Natural Disasters news and updates from Switzerland. AI-curated articles covering Natural Disasters topics.
A new WSL Institute study using hourly data predicts that extreme floods in the Swiss Alps will become significantly more intense and frequent by the century's end, presenting a bleaker outlook for the region than previous daily data models.
One year after a collapsing glacier devastated the village of Blatten in Valais, the insured loss has been tallied at CHF255 million. The figure highlights the significant financial impact of the disaster on residents, businesses, and the insurance industry, raising questions about natural hazard risks.
While conservationists celebrate the return of the otter to Swiss rivers after decades of absence, the environmental picture is complex. A stark reminder of nature's power comes from the CHF255 million in damages from the Blatten landslide, showcasing the ongoing tension between ecological recovery and climate-driven risks.
Authorities in canton Valais are closely monitoring the Oigschtchummun Glacier, which is showing signs of instability and advancing. This comes nearly a year after a different glacier collapse devastated the village of Blatten, prompting intensified surveillance of glacial risks in the Lötschental valley.
Emergency services are managing multiple natural threats, with a forest fire being contained in Graubünden after a significant overnight effort, while a growing crack in a Valais mountain raises concerns of a potential landslide and flooding for the village of Chippis.
Geologists have announced that a long-term return to the evacuated village of Brienz/Brinzauls is now considered possible. The reduced risk, attributed to a successful drainage tunnel and a recent rockfall, means future long-term evacuations are unlikely, though a resettlement project remains an option for residents.
After more than a year of evacuation, the residents of the Graubünden village of Brienz/Brinzauls have been permitted to return, marking a moment of great relief for the community that lived under the threat of a catastrophic landslide.
From trusted Swiss news outlets