Alps in danger: Dramatic deaths and natural disasters raise alarm!

Alps in danger: Dramatic deaths and natural disasters raise alarm!

The Alps, a popular holiday destination for hikers and mountain lovers, also harbor immense dangers. Rainer Rahn, an experienced mountain guide from the Marktredwitz Alpine Club, draws attention to the constantly increasing risks in the mountains. In recent weeks the number of deaths in the Italian Alps has tragically risen to 83. A well-known landslide in Switzerland further raised eyebrows when it buried an entire village with huge boulders. Such events raise questions: Are the Alps safe enough for the many tourists? What can be done to minimize risks? Frankenpost reports that global warming, which shortened the Morteratsch glacier by around 2,500 meters between 1900 and 2017, has a significant impact on the stability of the mountains.

The numbers are alarming and the dangers seem to be increasing. In recent years, a series of rock falls and avalanches have caused a stir among residents of the Alpine region. Recent mysterious earthquakes have also put science on alert. There have been many such natural disasters that have characterized the region. Mercury examines historical events and finds that many of these disasters are exacerbated by human actions.

A long history of disasters

The list of natural disasters in the Alps is long and frightening. Historians have been documenting such events since around 1600. The most common natural events are avalanches, followed by landslides and earthquakes caused by plate tectonic activity. When large amounts of rock rush into the valley at over 100 km/h, entire villages can be in danger, as the shocking history of the Alps shows.

• Bergsturz Eibsee (ca. 4100 Jahre v. Chr.): 350 Millionen Tonnen Gestein stürzten ab, was einer Kraft vergleichbar mit 220 Hiroshima-Bomben entspricht.
• Bergsturz Piuro (1618): Ungefähr 930 bis 1200 Menschenleben wurden gefordert, als unkontrollierter Abbau von Speckstein zu einem katastrophalen Bergsturz führte.
• Dammbruch Longarone (1963): 1917 Tote durch eine riesige Flutwelle, die aus einem Bergrutsch entstand.

As the Marmota Maps In summary, the mountains are known as adventurous playgrounds, but the population must be warned through alarm systems and risk assessments in order to counter emerging natural hazards. Numerous clean-up work is currently underway, including the one after the Seefeld Mure in 2023, which has already taken over a week.

The population and tourists are increasingly aware. It remains to be hoped that preventive measures and knowledge of natural disasters can ensure better safety for everyone in the Alpine region. In the majestic but also dangerous Alps, the balancing act between adventure and safety is more important than ever.