Evacuation Plans Prepared as Valais Mountain Fault Widens to 250 Metres

A staggering 500,000 cubic metres of earth hangs in a precarious balance above Val d'Anniviers, as the relentless 'Fios fault' continues to tear the mountainside apart. The situation in the 'Les Fios' district near Grimentz has escalated rapidly, with the fault line now stretching a massive 250 metres in length. Even more alarming is the speed of the deterioration: geologists report the gap is widening by a critical 2 to 4 millimetres every single day.

This is not a dormant threat; the mountain is active and unpredictable. The fissure, currently gaping between 80 centimetres and one metre wide, represents a geological time bomb for the region. While authorities currently favor a scenario of successive, smaller collapses, the possibility of a total failure cannot be ignored. The sheer scale of the unstable mass—equivalent to hundreds of Olympic swimming pools filled with rock and soil—demands immediate and unwavering attention from cantonal authorities.

The catalyst for this geological crisis lies in the relentless power of water. The destabilization of the slope is a direct consequence of severe flooding events that battered the region in 2018 and 2024. These surges weakened the riverbed that acts as the foundational bedrock for the mountain above, effectively undermining the slope's structural integrity.

It is a stark reminder of the compounding effects of climate volatility in the Swiss Alps. As the support weakens, the mass of earth above has begun an inexorable slide. Since its discovery in October 2025, the fault has evolved from a concern into a critical hazard. Geologists examining the site have now identified secondary cracks branching off the main fault, signaling that the stress on the mountainside is spreading. The mountain is groaning under its own weight, and the scars are becoming impossible to ignore.

The stakes are highest for the village of Chippis, which sits directly in the path of the potential fallout. The nightmare scenario involves the landslide crashing down and blocking the Navizence River, creating a temporary, unstable dam. When—not if—such a blockage were to burst, it would unleash a torrent of water and debris downstream, threatening the village and the vital Val d'Anniviers electricity network.

Authorities are not taking chances. In a dramatic move to ensure public safety, places have already been reserved in civil protection shelters in neighboring villages should an evacuation become necessary. The threat extends to infrastructure as well; the Cimetière bridge is at risk of being blocked or destroyed. With the spring snowmelt approaching, the risk of flooding intensifies, turning the river into a potential weapon against the local population.

Valais is fighting back with cutting-edge technology. The unstable slope is now one of the most heavily monitored patches of earth in Switzerland. A battery of instruments, including extensometers and laser scanners, provides real-time data on every millimeter of movement. A webcam keeps a 24/7 unblinking eye on the fault, while drones conduct weekly flyovers to map the changing terrain from above.

This surveillance is critical for the residents of Chippis. In a tense town hall meeting on Monday, nearly 300 locals—representing a significant 20% of the village—gathered to demand answers. Olivier Perruchoud, president of Chippis, noted that the primary anxiety revolves around evacuation timelines. "The main concern was how much time they would have to evacuate," Perruchoud stated. With an emergency line set to be ready by early summer, the race is on to ensure that if the mountain falls, the people will be long gone.