Authorities in eastern Switzerland have ordered residents of the village of Brienz to evacuate by Friday evening because geologists say a mass of 2m cubic metres of Alpine rock looming overhead could break loose and spill down in coming weeks. Officials said measurements indicated a “strong acceleration over a large area” in recent days, and “up to 2m cubic metres of rock material will collapse or slide in the coming seven to 24 days”. The centuries-old village straddles German- and Romansch-speaking parts of the eastern Graubünden region, sitting south-west of Davos at an altitude of about 1,150 metres (3,800ft). Locals said the mountain and the rocks on it had been moving since the last ice age, according to officials. But there was also a 10% chance the whole 2m cubic metres mass may tumble down – threatening lives, property and the village itself, he said.

Source: The Guardian May 10, 2023 19:10 UTC