The Grisons mountain village of Brienz GR must be evacuated by Sunday. This has been decided by the municipality.
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- The Grisons mountain village of Brienz GR must be evacuated by Sunday.
- This has been decided by the municipality.
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7.15 pm
Low probability of rapid debris flow
A very rapid flow of debris cannot be ruled out - but is very unlikely. In this case, says Schneider, the debris would also reach Brienz. Although the probability is low, it is also high enough not to be dismissed as a mere residual risk.
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19.13 hrs
Landslide will calm down after several months
Schneider is reassured that the situation is very likely to calm down over a period of several months. However, it is not possible to say exactly how far the landslide will have to progress to come to a standstill.
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19.09 hrs
Speed of the debris pile aided by rain
According to Schneider, the pile of rubble has "detached itself" and then accelerated. The heavy rain at the beginning of the summer had encouraged the movement. Later, intensive rainy days in September and October greatly intensified the speed of the scree pile.
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7.07 pm
Geologist explains the situation
Geologist Stefan Schneider speaks next to explain the findings that led to the decision to evacuate.
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19.06 hrs
Graubünden government donates 5000 francs
Albertin emphasizes the hardships the evacuation entails for the population. The Graubünden government has donated 5,000 francs to support those affected.
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7.02 pm
Daniel Albertin welcomes everyone to the press conference
Mayor Daniel Albertin welcomes everyone to the press conference on the Brienz landslide.
The village of Brienz must be evacuated. This was decided by the municipal council on the recommendation of the municipal management staff, as the municipality writes in a press release.
All residents must have left the village by 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 17. The evacuation is expected to last several months.
The early warning service of the municipality of Albula, to which the village of Brienz belongs, has analyzed the hazard situation together with the geology and natural hazards specialist group and other geologists and recommended the precautionary evacuation of Brienz for the coming weekend. It must be assumed that it will not be possible to enter the village for several months.
Ban on entering with immediate effect
The municipal council and municipal management staff would like to give those affected as much time as possible to evacuate and, together with the head of the cantonal management staff, have set the deadline for Sunday at 1 pm. All people and animals must have left the village by then.
For safety reasons, it is forbidden to enter the village with immediate effect. The access roads to Brienz are closed. Only residents and second home residents who are evacuating buildings in Brienz have access.
Fear of rubble dump
Since the second half of September, around 1.2 million cubic meters of rock debris have been moving downhill at a rate of 20 to 35 centimetres per day in the scree slope high above Brienz. There is a risk that it will become loose and then slide down towards the village as a rapid stream of debris.
According to geologists and natural hazard experts, it is most likely that the debris will calm down again. However, a flow of debris into the village cannot be ruled out. Such a rock avalanche could reach speeds of 80 or more kilometers per hour. It could partially or completely destroy the village.
Half a million francs in emergency aid
On Tuesday, the canton of Graubünden promised Brienz emergency aid of half a million francs. "In view of the impending evacuation, the government has decided to provide additional emergency aid of 500,000 Swiss francs," the press release stated
Among other things, this contribution is intended to help cover uncovered relocation and rental costs. The municipality of Albula will decide on the distribution in coordination with the donations commission.
blue News was still in Brienz on Monday and was able to speak to the residents. At that time, the evacuation had not yet been decided. You can see the impressions from the mountain village in the video.