Imminent monster rockslide in Brienz, Graubunden?

  • traveljet
    Participant
    387 posts
    11 May 2023 at 9:48:05 #829822

    Hi,

    I just read the troubling news about the imminent monster rockslide in Brienz.

    Updated: this is Brienz of Graubunden and not Bernese Oberland. I was initially worried if the railway station of Brienz in Bernese Oberland would be affected.

    Swiss village of Brienz told to flee imminent monster rockslide

    9 May 2023

    Residents of the tiny Swiss village of Brienz have been told to pack their bags and leave immediately.

    The reason: two million cubic metres of rock from the mountain above them is set to come loose and crash down to the valley in the next few days.

    The evacuation order has not come as a complete surprise to the remaining population of about 70 villagers.

    Brienz, in the eastern canton of Graubünden, has been judged a geological risk for some time.

    The village itself is built on land that is subsiding down towards the valley, causing the church spire to lean and large cracks to appear in buildings.

    Work was under way to try to stabilise that and there were signs the slippage might be slowing down. But ominously, the mountainside above Brienz was in the meantime breaking apart.

    Villagers had become accustomed to quite large boulders tumbling down to their gardens below.

    Geologists warned that the rock movement was accelerating. Part of the rockface, innocently nicknamed “the island”, was by 2023 slipping at a rate of 32m (105ft) every year.

    And yet no one thought they would have to leave so soon.

    The authorities had warned of a possible evacuation later this summer, and at the end of this week a regular village meeting was scheduled to bring everyone up to date.

    Instead, after latest risk assessments showed a rockslide was imminent, the order to get out came suddenly on Tuesday morning. From now on, no-one who doesn’t live in Brienz will be allowed to enter, while all villagers must be out by Friday at the latest.

    On Tuesday evening, Brienz’s residents, some already with their cars packed outside, gathered for one last update from the authorities.

    That innocent sounding “island” is moving even faster, and geologists now say its two million cubic metres of rock is expected to fall in the next seven to 24 days.

    How exactly all that rock will fall is not yet clear. It could come down fairly gradually, avoiding most of the village. Or it could come down fast, destroying Brienz entirely.

    The consensus among the villagers is that they hope and expect to come back to their homes. The problem is, they don’t know if they will still be standing.

    Full article in the link:

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65533681

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    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    11 May 2023 at 9:53:36 #954322

    The affected village is Brienz, Graubünden NOT Brienz, Berner Oberland.

    If any railway risks being caught up in this event it will be the Albula railway between Tiefencastel and Filisur, which passes about 1km south of Brienz GR

    http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/rockfall-danger–swiss-village-evacuated/48498056

    traveljet
    Participant
    387 posts
    11 May 2023 at 9:59:04 #954323

    Hi 1960man, thanks for the updated information that it’s not Brienz in Bernerse Oberland. I missed noticing that as I was suddenly so concerned when I saw the word Brienz. That’s a relief that it’s not in the Bernese Oberland although not so for the residents in Graubunden.

    Yolanda
    Moderator
    2223 posts
    11 May 2023 at 19:09:07 #954324

    Yes, absolutely. I agree it’s alarming and definitely we hope all stay safe.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    15 May 2023 at 22:57:18 #954325

    As I read, if and when the rockfall becomes imminent the ‘blue warning’ comes into effect, and a large area would be declared out of bounds and the Albula road and RhB Albula Railway would be closed. This is the view of the problem mountain from the railway:

    goo.gl/maps/RNVfYpW99jmbDFQ8A

    Authorities were preparing for the ‘blue warning’ phase on Monday afternoon

    Anna
    Moderator
    6279 posts
    16 May 2023 at 6:29:10 #954326

    Hi all,

    Due to the current situation, the village of Brienz, GR is closed to visitors and all residents have been evacuated. If you are interested, you can follow a livestream of the situation here: http://www.blick.ch/schweiz/graubuenden/wann-kommt-der-bergsturz-verfolge-die-situation-in-brienz-im-livestream-id18571815.html

    Note: This does not impact on the operation of the Glacier Express and Bernina Express trains.

    Regards,

    Anna

    traveljet
    Participant
    387 posts
    16 May 2023 at 10:19:47 #954327

    Thanks for the update. I am not familiar with that area and wonder if there are popular tourist destinations impacted by this unfortunate news.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    16 May 2023 at 21:52:05 #954328

    If the wider exclusion zone is invoked it absolutely would impact the operation of the Glacier Express and Bernina Express (Chur version) as they run on the railway close by (Tiefencastel – Filisur).

    The railway has already required constant attention in the area

    traveljet
    Participant
    387 posts
    17 May 2023 at 3:15:52 #954329

    Hi 1960man, that would be terrible if it should impact the operation of more railways in that region. Does that mean the regional trains from Brig to Zermatt will also be impacted should the wider exclusion zone be widened?

    Hope there will continue to be updates on this forum and the residents living in that area will be safe.

    Annika
    Moderator
    7104 posts
    17 May 2023 at 5:16:56 #954330

    Hi traveljet!

    Yes, let’s hope that everyone in the area stays safe and sound!

    At the moment there are no interruptions for the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, as mentioned by Anna. If there are, you’ll learn about them on the below pages:

    Any adjustments should also show up if you search for a route in the timetable: http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable

    Having said that: this situation can quickly change. According to the RhB spokesman in yesterday’s news, there may be closures between Tiefencastel and Filisur. If so, there will be diversions via Davos-Filisur and/or the Vereina tunnel (between Klosters and Susch/Saigliains in the Lower Engadine). The Glacier Express and Bernina Express will be using the Vereina route. This will add extra time to the journeys, but they should still be available.

    traveljet
    Participant
    387 posts
    17 May 2023 at 12:01:20 #954331

    Hi Annika, thank you for the updates and links.

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