All articles tagged with #swiss alps
Rapid melting of Swiss glaciers due to climate change threatens the future of Europe's major rivers, with glaciers like the Rhône losing significant ice mass, impacting water supply and ecosystems across the continent.
Three people were killed and one person was injured in an avalanche near the Swiss resort of Zermatt. The avalanche occurred at Riffelberg, and search operations were halted for Monday due to difficult access to the area. It remains unclear whether more people could still be missing.
Five cross-country skiers, including members of the same Swiss family, were found dead in the Swiss Alps near the Matterhorn after going missing over the weekend, with another skier still missing. The group set out in good conditions but faced catastrophic weather, triggering a search effort that was hindered by poor weather conditions. The search for the sixth person continues, with authorities remaining hopeful but realistic given the challenging conditions.
Five missing skiers were found dead in the Swiss Alps, with the search ongoing for a sixth member of their group. The skiers, aged 21 to 58, had set out from Zermatt aiming for the village of Arolla, but severe weather conditions and a risk of avalanches forced the search to be suspended until the next day. The bodies were discovered after the search resumed, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of death.
Five skiers, including five members of the same family, were found dead in the Swiss Alps, while one person is still missing. The group had set off from Zermatt and went missing in the Tête Blanche region. Search-and-rescue operations were hindered by poor weather conditions, and the bodies were found on Sunday. The operation involved special units of the Cantonal Police, the Rescue Organization for the Canton of Valais, and the Swiss Air Force.
The Swiss Alps have experienced a catastrophic loss of ice, with glaciers melting at a high rate due to exceptionally low snowfall and high temperatures. The volume of ice lost in the past two years is equivalent to what was lost between 1960 and 1990. This rapid ice loss has led to the disappearance of many small glaciers, and it is attributed to a lack of winter precipitation and rising summer temperatures.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest tunnel spanning 35 miles, has been partially closed to train passengers after a major derailment. The incident, which involved a freight train jumping the tracks and damaging about five miles of rail lines, has led to reduced capacity and longer journey times for passengers. The tunnel is expected to reopen partially on August 23, with one line unaffected, but full operations are not expected until early 2024. Swiss rail investigators are currently determining the cause of the accident, and the Swiss national rail operator, SBB, has apologized for the inconvenience caused to travelers and freight customers.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest and deepest rail tunnel located in the Swiss Alps, will be closed for several months due to a recent freight derailment. The extent of the damage was found to be greater than initially estimated, with 16 cars derailing and some freight cars badly damaged. While the undamaged east tunnel tube will be operational for freight traffic from August 23, both tunnel tubes are expected to be available for all rail traffic to a limited extent at the beginning of next year. The closure will cause inconvenience for rail passengers and freight customers.
The remains of a German climber who went missing in 1986 have been recovered on the Theodule glacier in the Swiss Alps. The climber, who was 38 years old at the time, failed to return from a climb and a search conducted then was unsuccessful. Climate change has accelerated the melting of glaciers, leading to the discovery of bodies of climbers who vanished over the decades.
A French skier, Les Powtos, fell into a massive crevasse while skiing in the Swiss Alps, which was captured in a terrifying GoPro video. The accident happened on the Meije mountain, known for its extreme skiing. Powtos managed to survive the fall by using crampons and a small piece of rope from his friends. The video has gone viral, with commenters from around the world expressing how lucky Powtos was to have survived.
A 26-year-old German man died after falling nearly 2,000 feet while climbing near Zermatt, Switzerland. The man was attempting to climb the Strahlhorn peak and fell while in the Adlerpass. The reason for the fall is unknown.
A 26-year-old German climber fell about 1,640 feet to his death on the Adlerpass, a mountain pass in the Swiss Alps, while climbing the Strahlhorn peak alone. His body was found on a glacier by rescuers in a helicopter. The cause of the accident is unknown. Zermatt, the resort near where the accident occurred, is home to the Matterhorn mountain and is known for its impressive peaks.