Catastrophic Flooding Intensifies Post-Glacier's Collapse - After the glacier receded, the waterlogging predicament has been aggravating
In the Swiss Alps, a catastrophic glacier collapse has engendered a precarious situation near the Lonza river in the Lötschental Valley. The collapse, which occurred on Wednesday, has led to the formation of a massive debris pile that has blocked the river, creating a rapidly expanding lake.
The lake has experienced sporadic surges, with water levels rising as much as three meters per hour at times, according to authorities. However, the pace has slowed, with officials reporting the lake's expansion in the evening. The concern is that the immense water masses will cause the lake to overflow in the early morning hours, potentially leading to severe flooding in downstream communities like Gampel and Steg.
Christian Studer, head of the Natural Hazards Service, addressed the media at a press conference in Ferden, expressing the intention to anticipate the process and ensure the safety of the population further downstream. Specialists are working diligently, employing experience and computer models to predict the course of events.
While a massive flood wave rushing down the valley is deemed unlikely, it cannot be entirely ruled out. State Councillor Stéphane Ganzer, a member of the Walliser cantonal government, noted the presence of pressure from the inflowing water of the Lonza, which could cause the water masses to suddenly break through the debris mountain. Moreover, temperatures of 20 degrees are forecasted for Friday at the top of the valley, further accelerating the melting of snow, thus increasing the water volumes.
However, Studer posits a more likely scenario of a slow outflow, "that the lake gradually empties, that this happens in an orderly manner." The slope of the debris cone being rather flat aids this possibility. It is also conceivable that the water will wash away deposited material and carry it downstream. Experts believe that all the material will be stopped at the Ferden reservoir and dam.
The mountain remains a hazardous site, with the threat of further rockfalls from the Kleine Nesthorn. Debris avalanches now threaten on the opposite side of the valley where debris from the initial collapse has been pushed up. The stability of the actual debris pile is uncertain due to the possible formation of water pockets within the ice. Army clearance teams are on standby, but entering the area is currently deemed too dangerous.
Beat Rieder, Deputy from the neighboring village of Wiler, described the event as a "century catastrophe" in Swiss television. "It is an event that the valley has never experienced since the beginning of recorded history," he said. "The people have lost everything they have built up in their whole lives."
Images from drones reveal that a significant portion of the village of Blatten is buried under a meter-high layer of debris. Most of the few houses initially spared are now flooded by the Lonza. The approximately 300 inhabitants were evacuated last week. A local resident who was in the disaster area on Wednesday is missing. Blatten is the last village in the 27-kilometer-long Lötschental Valley.
The hamlet of Ried, only one kilometer before Blatten, is also affected. Resident Daniel Ritler told the portal "20 Minuten": "In a few seconds, the whole homeland was destroyed." Farm and house could no longer be found on pictures. "It looked like the moon."
Climate change is believed to be the root cause of the catastrophe, as rising temperatures accelerate glacier melting and increase the risk of such disasters. The rapid loss of glacier volume in Switzerland highlights the growing threat of similar events in the future. The situation remains under close monitoring, and continuous updates are expected as the situation evolves.
Community aid is being organized to help those affected in the less favored regions of the Lötschental Valley, as many homes have been destroyed and residents displaced due to the glacier collapse. In light of the climate change-induced catastrophe, specialized teams are advocating for increased investments in science, particularly in health-and-wellness, climate-change, and environmental-science research, to help predict and mitigate future disasters.
