Human remains discovered after glacier collapse in Blatten

Human remains discovered after glacier collapse in Blatten

Search teams have found human remains in the Swiss village of Blatten a month after the devastating glacier collapse in the canton of Valais. This gruesome discovery brings new hope for clarity to a tragic case, as the 64-year-old shepherd, who has been missing since the accident, could be one of the remains found. The identification of the human remains is currently pending, but it is certain that the man was probably at a stable outside the evacuation zone when the accident occurred on May 28, 2025.

The glacier collapse, triggered by rock collapses on the Kleiner Nesthorn, caused enormous debris in the region: millions of cubic meters of ice, rock and rubble fell into the valley and practically buried the entire village of Blatten. Fortunately, around 300 residents and guests were evacuated in time after significant dangers from the unstable rock formations were reported. The evacuation began on May 17th with the order to bring the first 92 Blatten residents to safety, which was expanded to almost 300 people by May 19th.

Situation before the accident

The days before the demolition were marked by increasing earthquakes and landslides. On Saturday, May 17th, there was a rock fall, which caused the authorities to close two hiking trails. The weather was anything but stable; Even on Monday, May 19th, experts reported a massive landslide. With worrying reports of the glacier's movement, the situation finally came to a head on May 28, when authorities declared a worst-case scenario and the villages of Blatten and Ried were buried.

The situation worsened in the days that followed. Several small rock falls and accelerating glacier movement contributed to uncertainty in the region. The authorities not only feared that the debris could overflow, but the water from the Lonza had also derailed and is now flowing towards the Ferden reservoir. The entire community has been affected and is still suffering from the devastating consequences of this natural disaster.

Help for those affected

Amid this tragedy, humanitarian initiatives have taken root. Die Glückskette startete eine Sammelaktion für die vom Unglück betroffenen Menschen im Lötschental, um die Betroffenen zu unterstützen und ihnen beizustehen.

This is a devastating blow to the region, and residents are faced with the challenge of dealing with the emotional and physical consequences. While search and rescue teams continue their efforts to provide clarity and find the missing, hope remains for an early result through the identification of the human remains found.

Further information about the search for the missing shepherd and the general situation in Lötschental can be found in the detailed reports from mainpost.de, focus.de, and srf.ch.