Blatten glacier fractures increase sharply

Blatten (VS): glacier fractures increase sharply Keystone-SDA

The fractures in the Blatten glacier in Switzerland are increasing significantly, according to the authorities.

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A large avalanche occurred on Monday night, with a mixture of ice, rock, snow and water, but did not reach the valley floor.

The front of the glacier is now advancing at a rate of 10 metres a day, according to the Lötschental regional command headquarters in its latest update on Tuesday.

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A massive cone of debris had formed on the Birch glacier in recent days. Around nine million tonnes of debris are weighing down on the glacier.

A new reconnaissance flight is scheduled for Tuesday, and a second camera is to be installed to provide an oblique view of the glacier. This will enable a more detailed assessment of the movements and appearance of the crevasses on the front of the glacier. A further reconnaissance flight is also planned.

Translated from German by DeepL/mga

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