On May 29, 2025, a large piece of the Birch Glacier collapsed in the Lötschental valley of southern Switzerland, resulting in a powerful mudslide. The village of Blatten was nearly destroyed, with about 90% of homes and buildings covered in thick brown mud. Authorities had already evacuated around 300 people and livestock earlier in the month due to the glacier’s fast movement. Regional police reported that one 64-year-old man was missing. Search and rescue teams used a drone with a thermal camera to look for him. The Lonza River bed was also buried, and there is a risk that blocked water could overflow or cause further damage. The glacier collapse was described by local officials as a catastrophic event that needs urgent attention.

The Swiss army was mobilized to help assess the damage and support emergency efforts. The environment minister of Switzerland called the incident an “extraordinary event” and announced that the government would assist those who lost their homes. Glaciologists have linked the fast retreat of glaciers to climate change. Switzerland lost 4% of its glacier volume in 2023 and 6% in 2022, marking a dramatic trend. Scientists emphasized the urgency of action to manage future risks. A similar incident in Brienz in 2023 showed how dangerous these events can be. Experts said that rising global temperatures have accelerated glacial melting and increased the chance of disasters. Monitoring systems now use sophisticated technology for early warnings. These events serve as a stark and undeniable reminder of the environmental challenges caused by climate change, requiring unprecedented efforts to reduce further damage.