Rockfall Brienz residents question evacuation order

SDA

12.11.2024 - 20:01

When is the mountain coming? Brienz GR must be evacuated from next Sunday. A huge rock avalanche threatens to destroy the village.
When is the mountain coming? Brienz GR must be evacuated from next Sunday. A huge rock avalanche threatens to destroy the village.
Keystone

There is unrest in Brienz GR as residents are critical of the evacuation orders due to the threat of a rock avalanche.

Keystone-SDA

The situation in Brienz GR is tense as residents question the evacuation order. On Tuesday evening, some of them expressed doubts about the authorities' decisions.

One resident expressed his concerns to the authorities in Tiefencastel GR: "We're not going a third time." He was questioning the order to leave the village by midday on Sunday due to the threat of a rock avalanche.

The authorities emphasized: "You're not leaving for us, you're leaving for yourselves." They assured that the well-being of those affected was paramount in the decision.

Geologist Stefan Schneider explained that it was too dangerous to stay in the village. Due to the threat of a change in the weather next week, the evacuation could not be delayed any longer.

A massive rock avalanche of 1.2 million cubic meters is threatening the mountain village. However, it could take months for the material to actually slide away.

Skepticism towards the authorities

The residents of Brienz GR are skeptical of the authorities' instructions. The repeated calls for evacuation are causing resentment and doubts about the necessity of the measures.

Geological assessments

Geologist Stefan Schneider warns of the dangers of remaining in the village. The imminent change in the weather increases the risk of a rock avalanche, which requires swift action.