On Wednesday, May 25 this year. landslide [spowodowane przez oderwanie się fragmentu lodowca] Blatten covered in the Alps – a house and a source of income for over 300 people. For them, a nightmare has become a reality. However, the danger was not over. A cloud of dust is still floating above Kleinen Nesthorn. The peak broke away, kidnapped the glacier and consumed the village of Blatten. 10 million cubic meters. Rocks, ice and debris is now in its place – to remove this mass, 100,000 are needed. trucks. And new avalanche of debris is still falling into the valley. Geologists warn that another hundreds of thousands of cubic meters may fall.
A bus rides in the neighboring village of Wiler. The postman spreads letters. The Volg store is open. You might think it's an ordinary day. But then you look at the faces of men. A small group gathered in front of the restaurant. There is a mountain farmer Hans-Peter Siegen, resting both hands on the hood of the car, as if he had to stick to something.
“My farm, all my …” – his voice breaks down, he lacks words. Someone puts his hand on his shoulder, wanting to comfort. A police car arrives. A policeman gets out, approaches Siegen and embraces him. They look at each other, shake their heads, lower their hands. Without unnecessary words, they are simply to each other. Unimaginable suffering – losing their own home in a few moments – took away their speech.
Gradually, Siegen regains balance and begins to tell. He has a wife and four sons. Together they ran a farm with a Galloway cattle breeding. His parents already conducted this activity. Soon the youngest son was to take over the farm, who took cows to the Fafleralp pasture in the summer. But what now? A mountain farmer sighs: “Fortunately, I still have my cows.” There are 52 of them. He had to evacuate animals twice.
For the first time a week ago, when the mountain was closer. The second evacuation took place on Thursday. A new threat appeared – Lonza. The river has fastened behind the piack [skalnym rumowiskiem]. In the meantime, information about the threat of violent floods, mud avalanche appeared. However, the water is soaked through debris, and the level of the previously created lake is falling. The regional crisis staff announced on Saturday that the restoration of debris is basically excluded. However, individual lumps can still stop from above debris.
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The view from above at the ruined town of Blatten in Switzerland, May 30, 2025.
“What now?”
After the first evacuation, Hans-Peter Siegen moved his cows to the place that is currently in the new danger zone. So he had to drive the cattle to transport and take it elsewhere. “Animals are safe now,” he says. “But what now?” This question bothers everyone. Nobody has a satisfactory answer.
A mountain farmer lost his stable. His house in Wiler, however, still stands. Others have nothing – just like Daniel Ritler. His house and farm are covered with debris. “I stayed with nothing,” he says on the phone. “I don't know what I will do tomorrow,” he adds. But he must finish, says the farmer and says goodbye. Many inhabitants of the valley look for isolation, they do not want to talk to strangers. You can't blame them for it. Dozens of journalists from around the world traverse the destroyed landscape.
Those who lost their homes found shelter in empty summer houses or at friends, relatives and acquaintances in neighboring municipalities. For some time it is enough. However, a temporary solution can become durable.
Alessandro della Valle / EPA / PAP
Soldiers of the Military Emergency Service of the Swiss army prepare heavy equipment to help at the crash site in Blatten, at the Military base in Turtmann, Switzerland, on May 29, 2025.
“There will be no new Blatten”
Giving up is not an option for Matthias Bellwald. Without underestimating the disaster, the mayor wants to encourage the inhabitants of Blatten. “People lost everything they didn't have with them,” he said during a press conference on Friday. “But the invisible, in our heads and hearts, has been evacuated,” he added. It is clear to him that his village must be rebuilt. “Lotschemental is unthinkable without Blatten,” said Bellwald. He repeated it on Saturday. Already at the next municipal meeting, the commune wants to present the “reconstruction plan”. Bellwald announces “clear concepts”, he also wants to “present the method of financing.”
Everyone wants reconstruction. However, most still feel powerless, depressed. Mountain farmer Hans-Peter Siegen expresses what many residents think:-There will be no new Blatten-I can't imagine it. Others are wondering if they want to stay in the valley at all. The shepherd who saved his sheep with a helicopter now wants to sell animals. “He gave up,” is said in the village.
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Evacuation of sheep with helicopter, Blatten, Switzerland, 29 May 2025.
Nobody knows what will happen next. Even the government. “It's too early to answer this question,” writes the Valais canton press office. Decisions regarding the future of Blatten will last weeks or even months. One thing is certain: the federal and cantonal government promise help. Karin Keller-Sutter, the President of Switzerland, turned to the inhabitants of the valley with the words: “You are not alone.”
Everyone knows that the reconstruction of Blatten will be a herucles task. The pirate completely cut off the valley. The mass is still unstable, the ice did not melt. Nobody can enter the hill, even the army will not dare to get closer to debris. And even if – where to put all these rocks? In this case, the village would probably have to be rebuilt elsewhere. But where?
Just help
The LOTSCHENTAL Valley is narrow, the slopes are steep and densely forested. Construction areas are rare, and most of those that would be flat enough are found in the avalanche, landslide and falling stones. A glance at the danger map shows that on a significant part of the LOTSCHENTAL valley, it is not possible to build at all. Before the disaster, building lands were a scarce commodity. Now it's even harder to find them.
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The President of Switzerland Karin Keller-Sutter (SK), Mayor of the Blatten commune (L) Matthias Bellwald and a member of the Government of Canton Valais Franziska Biner after seeing the damage caused by the landslide, which destroyed the village of Blatten in Switzerland, May 30, 2025.
Bietschhorn rises high above the valley. A characteristic mountain with a height of 3934 m, something like a symbol of the region. It usually attracts tourists and mountaineers. On June 20, a mountain hostel was to be opened there. However, two access roads were buried and the third leads through the danger zone. Cornelia Wuethrich, a hostel, says sadly: – I think there will be no season. Perhaps the hostel will be opened again next year.
Summer without guests is financially abolished to her. “I will just go to the valley and help people,” he says. This is the best he can do. “Just help”. Perhaps it is Solidarity that now gives strength. Strangers accept victims. Farmers save animals together. The inhabitants of the valley have always been a harmonious community. Now they are even more.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
