{"id":121062,"date":"2026-08-27T01:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T01:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/121062\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T01:56:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T01:56:13","slug":"further-rockfalls-threaten-the-alps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/121062\/","title":{"rendered":"Further Rockfalls Threaten the Alps"},"content":{"rendered":"

27th August 2026<\/p>\n

The situation near the Weisshorn in Switzerland is worsening with the alert now raised to Level 3 after further glacier collapses. There are fresh warnings of more to come in the French Alps. NEW<\/p>\n

The situation on the Weisshorn near Randa in the Valais canton in southwestern Switzerland remains tense.<\/p>\n

Last Monday at least three rockfalls occurred on the Weisshorn East hanging glacier.<\/p>\n

The largest of these is said to have come down between 5pm and 6pm.<\/p>\n

Due to a significant increase in movement the authorities had already raised the alert level to 3.<\/p>\n

The municipality stated that, due to the current poor weather conditions, it was not currently possible to make a reliable assessment of the volume of the avalanches.<\/p>\n

Whether the increased risk will persist or whether the situation will ease is being closely monitored.<\/p>\n

A ban on entry to the area remains in force within the defined perimeter until further notice.<\/p>\n

Other areas of the Swiss Alps are being closely watched.<\/p>\n

There have been record rockfalls this summer across many parts of the Alps.<\/p>\n

The hot summer in the Alps has seen a record number of rockfalls, some of them fatal, with \u201ca large majority attributable to the climate crisis\u201d, according to Ludovic Ravanel, the research director at CNRS, France\u2019s national scientific research centre.<\/p>\n

This year \u201cwill undoubtedly be a record year\u201d both in terms of the frequency of rockfalls and the sheer volume of rock breaking away from the mountains on an almost daily basis, he said to the AFP newsagency.<\/p>\n

At the end of a summer punctuated by extreme heatwaves, the number of rockfalls recorded in the Mont Blanc massif alone is expected to reach 450.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is an absolutely staggering figure, given that just 10 or 20 years ago, there were only a few dozen,\u201d said the geomorphologist.<\/p>\n

The previous record stood at 300 and was set in 2022, another year marked by heatwaves.<\/p>\n

Many have been triggered by melting permafrost, often known as the glue that holds the mountains together.<\/p>\n

Rockfalls are also caused as glaciers melt and de-stablise the mountain side.<\/p>\n

The authorities on Mont Blanc have taken action by closing the two refuges used by those heading to the summit.<\/p>\n

\"Mont<\/p>\n

Mont Blanc, France. Image \u00a9 PlanetSKI<\/p>\n

Ravanel doesn\u2019t believe access to the high mountains should be completely restricted, describing them to AFP as \u201cabove all, a place of freedom\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mountaineering community regulates itself\u201d and \u201cdoes not put itself at greater risk during a heatwave than during a cooler summer\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

Related Articles:<\/p>\n

PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news<\/p>\n

Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports \u2013 web site, social media & more.<\/p>\n

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