In mid-May, the entire population of Brienz, a village with only 70 residents, was forced to evacuate due to the imminent danger of a massive rockfall, as warned by geologists. The unstable rockface above the village, known as "the island," had been a concern for decades, but the rate of rock slippage had recently escalated.
Although the villagers anticipated a temporary relocation, they were taken aback by the suddenness of the evacuation order. Just days prior, they were informed that they would likely need to move sometime in late summer. However, on 9 May, they were urgently summoned to an emergency village meeting and given a mere 48 hours to evacuate.
In the weeks that followed, some expressed frustration that the anticipated catastrophic rockfall had not occurred. They questioned why they couldn't return home when the rocks seemed to be trickling down gradually and harmlessly.
However, on Thursday night, the mountain unleashed its response, leading authorities in the eastern canton of Graubünden to declare that the village had experienced an extremely fortunate and narrow escape. Approximately two-thirds of the loose rock, estimated to exceed two million cubic meters in total, came crashing down.
Fortunately, helicopters assessing the aftermath reported no visible damage to the houses, providing immense relief to the villagers. Nevertheless, the prospect of returning home anytime soon remains bleak, as there is still approximately a million cubic meters of loose rock remaining on the mountain above.
Christian Gartmann, spokesperson for the village authorities, highlighted the potential danger posed by large boulders colliding with each other during their descent, generating rock splinters that resemble "cannonballs," capable of shattering windows and causing severe injuries.
Speculation arises regarding whether Brienz's predicament is a consequence of climate change, as Switzerland's Alpine regions are particularly susceptible to its effects. The diminishing glaciers and thawing permafrost at high altitudes render the rocks unstable.
While there is no permafrost on the mountain above Brienz, the evacuation order was influenced by the unusually heavy rainfall this spring, also associated with global warming. The saturated mountainside accelerated its sliding movement toward the valley.
Geologists caution that mountainous areas should anticipate an increase in rockslides as the climate continues to evolve.
As of now, the residents of Brienz remain in a prolonged state of anticipation, longing for the opportunity to return home.