- The village of Brienz GR has to prepare for another rockfall, as the local authorities announce.
- A rock avalanche could reach the village at a speed of over 80 kilometers per hour.
- The residents may have to evacuate in the coming days.
The approximately 90 people living in Brienz GR have been informed that they may have to leave their homes in the coming days and, in the worst case scenario, they will not be able to return for several months. A decision has not yet been made regarding the decision and timing of such a move.
“Please prepare for this immediately,” said Pascal Porchet, head of the cantonal office for military and civil protection, on Saturday evening to those affected in Tiefencastel GR. Everything that cannot be replaced should be brought with you. There is a risk that an evacuation will last several months.
Legend:
Mayor Daniel Albertin tried to reassure people.
Keystone/Gian Ehrenzeller
“How long do you want to subject us to this?” a resident of Brienz asked the authorities in Tiefencastel GR on Saturday evening
Mayor Daniel Albertin tried to lighten the mood: “You can trust our solidarity.” He referred to the ongoing construction of the 2.3 kilometer long drainage tunnel below the village. For 40 million francs, it is supposed to drain the land mass and thus reduce the pressure on the landslides. So the authorities did not lose faith in the preservation of the homeland, continued Albertin.
However, he had to face criticism for not answering existing questions. The living conditions are disastrous, said another victim. The whole village is currently sliding downhill at a rate of 2.4 meters per year. As a result, some of the houses were badly damaged. Doors would no longer close and the sewage system would no longer function properly. However, financial compensation would only be made for total losses.
The rubble is currently moving about 25 centimeters per day. Rain or rockfall in the area of the rubble pile could increase the speed to 80 kilometers per hour or more, geologist Stefan Schneider reported to residents. Such a debris flow is unlikely at present, but if it were to occur suddenly, timely warnings would no longer be possible.
Brienz GR was last evacuated on 12 May 2023. Up to two million cubic meters of rock threatened to fall from the mighty mountain slope above the village – with a volume equivalent to 2,000 single-family houses. On the night of June 16, 2023, 1.2 million cubic meters of rock erupted as a massive debris flow. This stopped just before the village.
At the beginning of July 2023, the people of Brienz were able to return to their homes. In mid-March 2024, several thousand cubic meters of rock fell over the community. The mountain village of Graubünden was saved. As the plateau, the largest and highest part above the village at five million cubic meters, was sliding towards the valley at a rate of 4.3 meters per year, new crevasses were constantly forming. As a result, parts of the rock wall lost their grip and collapsed.
Recently, heavy rains in May this year resulted in increased block and rock falls from the landslide. According to the authorities, there was no danger to the village at the time.
The 1.2 million cubic meters of rock mass at risk of collapse is very wet compared to the last major event in June 2023. It must therefore be assumed that they could slide faster and advance further into the village . In June of last year, a rock avalanche stopped just outside the village.
Crease the risk of further disasters, making it imperative for the authorities to act swiftly. The frustrating situation has left the residents feeling powerless and worried about the safety of their homes and lives.
Local officials urged those in the affected areas to keep a close eye on the ongoing developments and to remain prepared for an emergency evacuation. The community’s safety is the top priority, and although the construction of the drainage tunnel is underway to alleviate some of the pressure and risk from landslides, the long-term solution remains uncertain.
As evacuation plans are considered, residents are not only concerned about losing their homes but also about the emotional toll such a move takes, particularly when it comes to disrupting their lives indefinitely. The community is now grappling with the uncertainty of both their immediate future and the potential permanent changes to their beloved village of Brienz.