Climate and environmentEvacuationsGeneral NewsMoreWorld News A Significant Rock Mass Slides Down Mountain, Almost Reaching Evacuated Swiss Hamlet by Chloe Baker June 16, 2023 written by Chloe Baker June 16, 2023 0 comments Bookmark 56 A substantial quantity of rock recently slid down a mountainside situated above an evacuated Swiss hamlet, coming precariously close to the settlement, officials announced on Friday. The village of Brienz, located in Switzerland’s southeastern Graubuenden region, was cleared on May 12 in response to geological experts’ warnings that the massive Alpine rock overhanging the village was prone to detachment. Local officials noted that the rock’s movements on the slope had accelerated over the past few days. Between 11 p.m. and midnight on Thursday, a large part of the rock mass moved downhill towards Brienz, according to the local council. There were no signs of any damage to the village as the rockslide halted just short of reaching it, creating a deposit several meters high near the school building. The exact quantity of the at-risk 1.9 million cubic meters (67 million cubic feet) of rock that ultimately dislodged remains unclear. However, the local council suggests that it seems to represent a significant proportion of the total. In the aftermath of the rockslide, authorities raised the alert level as a preventative measure, resulting in the closure of some local roads, a railway line, and the precautionary evacuation of two houses in the adjacent village of Surava. This rockslide event occurred just over a week after Brienz residents were permitted their first return visits to the village since the evacuation to collect essential belongings from their homes. The rules allowed only two people from each household to enter for 90-minute periods. When the evacuation was first implemented, officials indicated that the residents’ ability to return occasionally would be contingent on the assessed risk level, although overnight stays would not be permitted. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Swiss Village RockslideWhat caused the evacuation of the Swiss village of Brienz?Did the rockslide cause any damage to the village?How much of the at-risk rock actually came loose?What safety precautions were taken after the rockslide?Can the residents return to their homes after the evacuation?More about Swiss Village Rockslide Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Swiss Village Rockslide What caused the evacuation of the Swiss village of Brienz? The evacuation of the Swiss village of Brienz was prompted by the risk of a large rock mass sliding down the mountainside above the village. Geology experts warned that the Alpine rock was unstable and could break loose, posing a danger to the settlement. Did the rockslide cause any damage to the village? Fortunately, there was no evidence of damage to the village of Brienz. The rockslide stopped just short of reaching the settlement, leaving a deposit of rocks in front of the school building. The authorities reported no harm to the village itself. How much of the at-risk rock actually came loose? The exact quantity of the rock that came loose from the 1.9 million cubic meters (67 million cubic feet) at risk is not immediately clear. However, local officials stated that it appeared to be a substantial portion of the material, indicating a significant movement of the rock mass. What safety precautions were taken after the rockslide? As a precautionary measure, the authorities raised the alert level and implemented safety precautions. Some local roads and a railway line were closed, and two houses in the neighboring village of Surava were evacuated. These measures were taken to ensure the safety of the residents and to prevent any potential harm caused by further rock movements. Can the residents return to their homes after the evacuation? Residents of Brienz were allowed to make brief visits to retrieve essential items from their homes. However, overnight stays were not permitted. The frequency of their visits depended on the assessed risk level. Authorities emphasized that the safety of the residents remained a priority. More about Swiss Village Rockslide Swissinfo: Large rock slide near evacuated village of Brienz BBC News: Swiss village narrowly escapes rockslide Reuters: Rockslide near evacuated Swiss village of Brienz The Guardian: Rockslide stops short of evacuated Swiss village CNN: Swiss village evacuated due to rockslide threat You Might Be Interested In Hundreds of journalists strike to demand leadership change at biggest US newspaper chain House Republicans Seek New Speaker Amidst Turmoil Federal Reserve Nearing Unprecedented Success: Taming Inflation Without Deep Economic Downturn Pope Encourages Young People and Announces World Youth Day to Return to Asia in 2027 Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians and Association Finalize Three-Year Labor Contract with 15.8% Wage Increase The United States is Well-Positioned for the Second Round of the World Cup, Alongside Multiple Competing Teams alert levelBrienzClimate and environmentevacuationEvacuationsGeneral Newsgeological riskGraubuendenmountainrock massrockslidesafety precautionssettlementSwiss villageSwitzerlandWorld News Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Chloe Baker Follow Author Chloe Baker is a travel journalist who covers the latest news and trends in the world of travel. She enjoys exploring new destinations and sharing her experiences with her readers, from exotic locales to hidden gems off the beaten path. previous post Visit of UN Atomic Watchdog Chief to Ukraine Nuclear Plant Threatened by Russia’s War next post African Leaders Convene with Ukrainian and Russian Presidents in Effort to Terminate War You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
