A rock volume of two million cubic metres is moving so fast that it is expected to break loose in the next one to three weeks, the local authorities said on Tuesday. The municipality in canton Graubünden has activated the “orange phase” and therefore the evacuation of the village, which has a population of under 100.
As of Friday evening nobody will be allowed to stay overnight in the village until further notice. From Saturday villagers will be allowed into Brienz/Brinzauls during the day, if the danger level permits. Livestock from two farms will remain in the stables for the time being, the authorities said.
Village residents share their thoughts on the evacuation in this video:
All access roads to Brienz/Brinzauls are now open only to residents and homeowners. On Tuesday evening the authorities will provide information on the details of the evacuation during a public information event in the nearby village of Tiefencastel.
The landslide area is located above the village. “Current measurements show a high acceleration over a large area,” the authorities said. This indicates that up to two million cubic metres of rock material will fall or slide in the next seven to 24 days.
As soon as a break-off of the rock mass is imminent within three to ten days, the “red phase” will be activated. At that point, it will no longer be possible to enter Brienz/Brinzauls even during the day and the cattle will be driven away.
In 2017 eight hikers died and several houses were destroyed in one of the biggest landslides in Switzerland for over 130 years, on Piz Cengalo, also in canton Graubünden.
* This article, which previously stated a population of 130, was corrected on May 30
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
This content was published on
TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
This content was published on
The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
Ukraine peace conference should include Russia, says Chinese ambassador
This content was published on
China supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties, says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui.
This content was published on
A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
This content was published on
The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Mountain guides renounce Jungfrau ascent due to rock fall
This content was published on
For the first time in over 100 years, Swiss mountain guides will no longer be accompanying alpinists on the classic route to the summit of Jungfrau.
Climate threats: living in the shadow of a crumbling mountain
This content was published on
At the popular Alpine resort of Kandersteg, villagers live with the threat of the nearby Spitzer Stein mountain tumbling down.
Permafrost temperatures in Swiss Alps reach record highs
This content was published on
The warming trend observed in permafrost over the last two decades continued in 2019-2020, the warmest hydrological year on record in Switzerland.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.