The Swiss village of Brienz, which was only just missed by a stream of debris, is allowed to re-enter – albeit with restrictions. The approximately 80 residents will be allowed to return to the village by the hour from next week, the responsible municipality of Albula announced on Thursday.
Because it is still unclear how stable the situation is after the huge slide on the slope, no one can spend the night in Brienz for the time being.
The debris cone remains deposited
Measuring equipment has already been installed. The debris cone remains deposited. There is currently no drinking water in Brienz due to a burst pipe. However, according to the municipality, the fracture is not related to the debris flow.
On the night of June 16, a huge area of the mountain above the village had slid down. It is estimated that considerably more than one million cubic meters of boulders and rocks moved towards the village. The authorities had been expecting this for weeks and therefore evacuated the village in advance.
The debris flow stopped right in front of the school building
The stream of debris, several feet high, buried a road and meadows, but came to rest a few feet in front of an old school building. Brienz is located at about 1100 meters above sea level in the canton of Graubünden.
Unlike other regions, climate change had no impact on this slide. “The village has been moving for as long as anyone can remember,” the municipality writes on its website. “Probably the entire terrace has been sliding down the valley since the last ice age.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
