Stories from Blatten · Switzerland

The community in Blatten, Switzerland, is dealing with the aftermath of a rockslide, with many residents reportedly dreaming of their old homes. Gemeindepräsident Matthias Bellwald is working on rebuilding efforts for the village and ensuring the plateau has a future.

Two hiking trails have been closed in the municipality of Blatten in the Valais region following a debris flow. The flow was triggered by a rockfall in the area. Local authorities have been informed of the movement above Blatten. A rockfall flattened the village of Blatten, resulting in 302 deaths. The community is located in a large area of nature, described as being larger than the city of Zurich. Tjelenka Kalpermat, a 23-year-old radio journalist who grew up in the village, reported that she lived there until May 20.

A rockslide occurred at the small Nesthorn, sending debris onto the mountain glacier and carrying away a small part of it. The mountain above Blatten is moving in an way. Two hiking trails in the Lötschental valley in Wallis have been closed following a debris flow.

An avalanche of ice and debris roared into the valley near Blatten in the Lötschental valley. The event occurred shortly before 4 PM local time. An avalanche has buried a valley in Switzerland.

The Swiss government approved nearly 40 million francs for a new cantonal road between Blatten and Wieler and a provisional cable car. The new road is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2029. The provisional cable car is scheduled to be in use by the end of this year. This project follows a rockfall in May last year that damaged access routes to Blatten. Currently, the village is only accessible via an emergency road that is impassable during winter.

A temporary aerial cableway is being installed in Blatten to ensure access to the Platte area during the upcoming winter. Stefan Lukkan of the Valais Mobility Office stated the cableway is necessary because the emergency and rescue road is impassable above 2,000 meters due to avalanche risks. The installation aims to allow residents with intact houses in Rhein-Blatte to reach Platte next winter.

Authorities in Blatten laid the first stone for a future cantonal road this morning. The construction is estimated to take three years and cost 29.7 million francs. Construction has begun on a new cantonal road to restore access to the valley near Blatten. This follows a landslide that occurred in the Valais village nearly one year ago. The Federal Criminal Court stated that no judgment can be rendered under current circumstances regarding certain departures. Proceedings against co-defendant Lomba Odier will continue. The project involves building a 2.8 km road through difficult terrain, including the construction of many retaining walls. Stefan Lucken of the Valais Mobility Office stated the complexity of the route and the need for retaining walls will slow progress. The new road is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2029.