Rockfall Rock avalanche could engulf Brienz GR at over 80 km/h

The Grisons mountain village of Brienz is once again at risk of being buried. A rock avalanche could reach the village at a speed of over 80 kilometers per hour. The residents may have to be evacuated in the coming days.

"Please prepare for this immediately", said Pascal Porchet, Head of the Cantonal Office for Military and Civil Defense, to those affected in Tiefencastel GR on Saturday evening. Everything that cannot be replaced with money should be taken away. An evacuation of several months is imminent.

The 1.2 million cubic meters of rock mass at risk of falling are very moist compared to the last major event in June 2023. It must therefore be assumed that they could slide down faster and penetrate further into the village. In June last year, a rock avalanche stopped short of the village.

Recently, the speed of the rock slide has increased massively. The municipality therefore declared "Phase Yellow" on Saturday morning. This is in preparation for an evacuation.

SDA