Catastrophe intensifies following glacier rupture, leading to unprecedented flooding - After the glacier's recession, waterlogging condition intensifies
In the Swiss Alps, a catastrophic glacier collapse has led to a growing crisis in the Lötschental Valley. The collapse of the Birch Glacier resulted in a massive debris pile, obstructing the Lonza river's bed and forming a lake that threatens to overflow.
Authorities reported that the lake's water level had risen significantly, at times increasing by as much as three meters per hour. The situation has since stabilized, but the lake continues to spread in area, raising concerns for an imminent overflow.
Christian Studer, of the Natural Hazards Service, explained during a press conference that specialists are working around the clock to predict the possible outcomes and secure the safety of those downstream. While a massive flood wave rushing down the valley is unlikely, there is a possibility that the debris mountain may suddenly burst under the pressure of the inflowing water.
If the lake were to overflow, it would likely cause flooding in neighboring villages, such as Gampel and Steg. To address this risk, experts are assessing the potential to release water from the reservoir in Ferden downstream.
The mountain remains dangerously unstable, with the threat of further rock falls from the Kleine Nesthorn. Debris avalanches are now possible, and the extent of the debris pile's stability is unknown due to the presence of ice and potentially unstable water pockets.
The village of Blatten, the last in the Lötschental Valley, was severely impacted by the disaster, with nearly 90% of the village buried under ice, rock, and mud. Rescue efforts managed to evacuate the around 300 inhabitants before the collapse occurred, but one local resident remains missing. The neighboring hamlet of Ried has also been affected.
Many are questioning the role of climate change in these events. Jan Beutel, a professor at the University of Innsbruck, stated that while attributing a single event directly to climate change can be difficult, the significant changes observed in the high mountains today are largely due to the climate change of the past decades. The melting of glaciers and rapid snowmelt can increase the erosion of rock and water, destabilizing mountain slopes and glaciers and contributing to the risk of future landslides and collapses.
[1] https://www.sub.rwth-aachen.de/global/de/1217.php[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57446146[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/07/11/rushing-onions-cool-off-season-swiss-alps-brand-roars-pages/
- The community, concerned about the ongoing crisis in the Lötschental Valley, is raising funds for aid to the less-favored regions impacted by the catastrophic glacier collapse, specifically focusing on health-and-wellness, climate-change mitigation, and environmental-science research to prevent future disasters.
- As scientists continue to study the role of climate change in the Lötschental Valley disaster, they emphasize the importance of science in understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change on health, wellness, and the environment, advocating for increased investment in these areas to promote sustainability and resilience for less-favored regions.
