#swisshistorypics The ‘winter of terror’ that changed Swiss avalanche prevention
By Helen James (picture editor)In the extreme winter of 1951, more than 1,300 avalanches across Switzerland destroyed 1,000 buildings and killed 98 people. It was a disastrous moment in Swiss history that became known as the ‘winter of terror'.
In our series #swisshistorypics external linkwe travel back in time to look at photographs which document past life and culture in Switzerland.
An avalanche in Vals, southeast Switzerland, claimed 19 lives in January 1951 (Keystone)
Eastern Switzerland was hit by a series of avalanches during January 1951. In February the snow continued, causing further concern among locals in canton Graubünden and the village of Vals. Strong winds helped the snow to pile up and no one knew how long the steep slopes would hold.
A search for victims after the Vallascia avalanche in Airolo in southern Switzerland on February 12, 1951 (Keystone/Ernst Baumann)
A sentry stands watch with a siren after an avalanche claimed ten lives in Airolo on February 12, 1951. (Keystone/Ernst Baumann)
The winter report from the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) documented and described the events of the avalanche winter of 1951 by berghilfe.chexternal link. “Suddenly a dull rolling, then whistling, crashing, breaking and - darkness in the whole village. Calls for help point the way to the scene of the disaster, where at that moment the houses and homes of entire families became their graves”. The avalanche in Vals killed 19 people.
Mailbags are dropped by parachute from a plane for a village cut off from the outside world by avalanches in January 1951. (Keystone)
Salvage work after the devastating avalanche in Andermatt, January 1951. (Keystone)
Canton Graubünden in January 1951. (Keystone)
The burial of ten avalanche victims took place in February 1951 in Airolo. (Keystone)
The catastrophic winter of 1951 led to calls for action to keep the mountain population safe. Basic research and practical support were needed, as well as an avalanche warning system.
Avalanche barriers on the Vallascia over Airolo were erected in October 1954 to prevent a catastrophe like the one of 1951. (Keystone)
A training course for mountain rescue dogs, which were used by the army until the Swiss Alpine Club took over the training after the Second World War. (ETH Bibliothek)
Since 1953 more efficient structures have been developed, such as protection forests planted on critical mountain slopes, hazard maps and the expansion of the forecast by the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF). The improvements showed their value in 1999 when there were a similar number of avalanches as in 1951 but fewer fatalities. This was attributed to the measures taken as a result of the "winter of terror".
The Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research taking readings of data from an open-air barograph in canton Graubünden in January 1953 (Keystone)
Today, with ongoing developments in avalanche safety, UNESCO has included Switzerland’s handling of avalanche risk in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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