The catastrophe in Nepal, where a glacier collapse caused a powerful mudslide, has once again drawn the world’s attention to the danger of similar phenomena. German glaciologist Olaf Eisen believes that the risk of glacier collapses in the Alps is also increasing due to global warming. However, a repeat of the Nepalese catastrophe’s scale in Europe is, in his opinion, unlikely,
writes
Euronews.
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The image is illustrative. Photo: vecteezy.com
The scientist cites the glacier collapse near the Swiss village of Blatten in May 2025 as an example. The danger there was noticed in time, and residents were evacuated in advance, but one 64-year-old man still died. Meanwhile, the volume of ice that collapsed in Nepal is preliminarily estimated to be 10-20 times larger.
European mountains are becoming increasingly unstable due to the rapid retreat of glaciers and the thawing of permafrost. This particularly applies to areas at altitudes of 2500-3000 meters in France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. The combination of warming with extreme heat and heavy precipitation creates a particular danger.
In Switzerland, about a thousand glaciers have disappeared since 1850. From 2000 to 2024, the remaining ones lost an average of 38% of their volume.
In the Swiss Randa area, the Weisshorn glacier is currently being monitored, where three small collapses recently occurred. Experts do not see an immediate threat to people, but nearby tourist and cycling routes are closed. Potentially, several hundred thousand cubic meters of ice could break off the glacier.
One of the reasons for the danger is the thawing of permafrost and the melting of ice in the lower part of the glacier. As a result, the glacier is held less firmly to the bedrock. Additionally, large volumes of water can form beneath it. During heatwaves or heavy rains, the pressure increases, and the ice mass can suddenly collapse.
A similar tragedy occurred in 2022 on Italy’s Marmolada in the Dolomites. A large part of the glacier broke off the slope, resulting in the deaths of 11 climbers.
According to Olaf Eisen, the main way to reduce risk remains combating climate change. Even a small reduction in average temperature can help glaciers stabilize. Mechanical protection methods, however, are effective only for a short time, are expensive, and can only be used in specific locations.