Rapidly developing lake predicted to spill over imminently
Artificial Lake Formed After Glacier Collapse in Swiss Valley
A glacier collapse in the Swiss Lötschental valley has resulted in a debris-blocked river, forming a lake that authorities anticipate will overflow within hours.
The incident caused the Lonza riverbed to be obstructed, leading to the creation of a lake. The rising water level has slowed, but the lake has spread in area, prompting concerns of an overflow. Authorities in Lötschental expect this to occur in the early morning hours.
At a press conference in Ferden, Christian Studer of the Natural Hazards Service stated, "Our aim is to anticipate this process as effectively as possible and ensure the safety of the population downstream." Experts are working around the clock to forecast the potential outcomes, utilizing experience and computer models.
Thus far, 16 residents from the downstream villages of Wiler and Kippel have been evacuated by the civil protection service.
While a massive flood wave is unlikely, it cannot be completely ruled out. The pressure from the inflowing Lonza water and the anticipated high temperatures on Friday pose potential risks. However, a more likely scenario suggests the lake will gradually empty, potentially carrying debris downstream. The village of Ferden has a reservoir and dam, which experts believe will prevent most of the material from causing further damage.
The situation on the mountain remains precarious. Hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of rock still pose a danger of further falls from the Kleine Nesthorn. Some debris has been pushed up on the opposite side of the valley, increasing the threat of debris avalanches. The stability of the overall debris pile is unknown, as ice could form water pockets. While army clearance teams are on standby, entering the area is currently too dangerous, authorities say.
Meanwhile, in Blatten, houses initially spared by the glacier collapse have been destroyed by the backed-up water of the Lonza. The village was evacuated days before the collapse, and nearby hamlets have also been evacuated due to the risk of mudslides. A local resident missing since Wednesday still has not been found.
The growing concern over accelerated glacier retreat in Switzerland is linked to rising temperatures due to climate change. Swiss glaciers alone lost 10 percent of their mass in 2022 and 2023 – as much as they did between 1960 and 1990.
In August 2017, a massive rockfall in the Swiss canton of Graubünden resulted in the loss of eight hikers. Hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of rock and mud hit Bondo, causing significant destruction, though fortunately, the villagers were evacuated beforehand, and no residents were injured.
- In light of the community policy regarding emergency situations, it's essential to implement protective measures against potential environmental hazards, such as the current climate-change-induced glacier melt and the subsequent environmentally-attributed risks like floods and debris flow.
- To mitigate the health-and-wellness risks associated with the artificially formed lake in the Lötschental valley, environmental-science experts are monitoring the lake's behavior and water levels, with the aim of predicting its behavior accurately and ensuring the safety of the residents downstream.
