On May 28, a mass of rock, ice, mud and water crashed down on and buried the mountain village of Blatten in the Swiss canton of Valais. Only a few houses remained standing, and these are now flooded by a pool of water that has formed behind the debris.

The small Swiss Alps village of Blatten was largely destroyed when the Birch glacier collapsed and sent a mass of rock, ice and scree hurtling down into the valley it was located. Although one

A massive glacier collapse overwhelmed the Swiss village of Blatten, destroying most structures and leaving a 64-year-old man missing.