Danger of rock fall: Swiss village prepares for evacuation

Evacuation plans are in place in Brienz, Switzerland as the village faces risk of being buried by rock falls.

The mountain village of Brienz, in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland, stands on a mountainside that has been unstable for years. The movement in the rock has now accelerated sharply, likely due to high water pressure under a sliding layer of clay.

The entire village of Brienz/Brinzauls in the Albula Valley has been sliding downhill by around one metre every year. With a sudden increase of movement, rock falls could begin by early summer.

Due to the instability of the village, buildings have become slanted or cracked. To try to prevent the movement, a tunnel has been dug over the past two years to drain the rock below the village. While still in the test phase, initial results are promising.

Plans are currently being drawn up for the possible evacuation of the entire village population. Around 100 people, including residents and vacation home owners are to be informed of the plans after Easter.

At present, the authorities do not assume any imminent danger. Based on studies, a potential landslide event should be detectable weeks in advance, so this should theoretically leave enough time for evacuation.

In a worst-case scenario, a landslide could bury the entire village. However, smaller rockfalls with less damage potential are more likely.