Swiss village of Brienz evacuated over risk of imminent rockslide - BBC News

Residents of the tiny Swiss village of Brienz have all been evacuated because of the risk of an imminent rockslide.

The village has fewer than 100 residents, who were given just 48 hours to pack what they could and abandon their homes.

Even the dairy cows were loaded up for departure, after geologists warned that two million cubic metres of rock is coming loose from the mountain above, which could obliterate the village.

#Brienz #Switzerland #BBCNews

[princepsmickey]

I actually recognize this village from a video by Tom Scott. They had a radar installed on a road to warn drivers of possible rocks falling into the road way

[johnl]

This is NOT the town of Brienz you think it is. The well known town of Brienz is on Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) near Interlaken. This is a small town near the larger town of Thusis in Canton Graubunden.

[elizabethgrogan]

I remember being in this village, having lunch on our way to our destination. It is absolutely stunning. There were signs warning drivers to watch out for rockfalls.

[elvenkind]

Looks like half the mountain have crumbled. Stay safe! So glad nobody was hurt. Also hoping the beautiful village are not damaged. Greetings from Norway.

[isabellebaudin]

They didn’t get only a 48-hour warning ! The residents of Brienz had known for years that they would have to leave their village at some point. The date was gradually clarified and the final date was set last week already ! So the 48-hour notice you're talking about is totally inaccurate.

[nemesis]

just a few days ago i watched a video about this village from tom scott... how quickly this topic returned

[theoneandonly]

I live in the same canton that Brienz is in and I never expected this to reach international news and to be covered by BBC. This is actually the only news I've ever watched about it, because here you just know about it.

[FruPetersen]

Im happy that they evaluated in time. The village didnt get hit but was close. The mountain rocks fell last night

[fizzedupslade]

I suppose given the size of those boulders and the mountain looking like rubble, it's time to go. Very sad for these folks to lose their homes. I hope this event happens quickly and that many homes will not be destroyed. Best wishes to them. 🇬🇧

[martinebon]

Very wise to prioritise lives over property. Some instances, people prefer to stay due to fears of losing their home, a majority of them do not survive.

[nukacola]

The funny part is.... they needed to be told... all while Watching the mountain crumble....

[vshnram]

Thank God the villagers will be safe. 🙏
So often people get no early warning.

[keahnig]

Please don't confuse Brienz with Brienz at lake Brienz.
These are two different villages.

[flamelily]

This is sad for the residents but better to have a warning to move. I hope they will be able to move back to their homes eventually.

[HughCorbyCruick]

One mountain goat sneezes and that town is gone.

[chateaupig]

Aw 😢, so sad . European villages are so beautifull, serene, picturesque and a very relaxed way of life for the residents of the villages . This is very sad but becoming ever more common place . I live in New Zealand where areas are being wiped out by constant rain .

[absunshine]

If you want to see what could happen look up Frank Slide that happened in the town of Frank in Southern Alberta. The entire side of the mountain came down with such a force it went across the valley and up the other side.

[piccalillipit]

*ON THE BRIGHT SIDE* they dont live in Britain so its not all that bad...

[merle-wqir]

Omg all the best to everyone affected from South Africa 🇿🇦

[KougaJ]

"We can't rule out the possibility of a rockslide occurring."
The way that mountain surface was sinking over a few days time, the question is not 'if' but 'when'.