World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
A moving 250,000-tonne ice block raises avalanche risk above Randa
A 250,000-tonne ice block is moving downhill from the Weisshorn Ost hanging glacier above Randa, in Switzerland’s Valais canton.
It is moving by up to 20 centimetres a day, and several smaller ice masses have already broken away.
Fresh snow could make a collapse more dangerous by adding snow to an avalanche triggered by falling ice.
Experts say the worst case could cause a chain reaction, but consider it unlikely; the risk depends on snow conditions and whether the ice breaks away all at once.
Authorities have closed the marked danger zone and are monitoring the glacier three times a day.
Randa’s settled area is not currently considered at risk, and the village’s official access routes for walkers and cyclists remain closed.
Officials cannot reliably predict whether or when the ice will fall, so monitoring and precautionary closures continue.
A moving ice mass of about 250,000 tonnes above Randa in Switzerland is raising concern about a possible glacier collapse.
The block on the Weisshorn Ost hanging glacier is moving downhill by up to 20 centimetres per day.
Recent snowfall could increase the risk of an ice-and-snow avalanche, including a possible chain reaction.
Authorities have raised monitoring to level three of four and closed access to the designated danger area.
The populated area of Randa is not considered at risk under the current assessment.
- Who
- Residents and visitors near Randa, with authorities and natural-hazard experts monitoring the glacier.
- What
- A 250,000-tonne ice block is moving downhill, raising concern about a possible ice-and-snow avalanche.
- When
- The movement was reported in October 2026; monitoring of the glacier began in late June.
- Where
- Weisshorn Ost, above Randa in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.
- Why
- The moving ice could break away, and recent snowfall could be swept into a larger avalanche.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The municipality of Randa began monitoring the glacier and defined a danger area.
At least three ice masses broke away, and monitoring was raised to level three after movement increased.
The municipality confirmed that monitoring remained at level three.
Rosenheim24 reported that the ice block was moving downhill by up to 20 centimetres per day and that recent snowfall could worsen the danger.
- Ice mass
- About 250,000 tonnes
- Movement
- Up to 20 centimetres downhill per day
- Location
- Weisshorn Ost, above Randa, canton of Valais, Switzerland
- Monitoring
- Level three of four; checks increased to three times daily after the August break-offs
- Access restrictions
- Strict ban on entering the designated danger area; pedestrian and cycling routes closed
- Population risk
- Randa’s populated area is not considered at risk under the current assessment
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What people are saying
Das macht mir persönlich schon ein bisschen Bauchschmerzen
Das extremste Szenario wäre, wenn der Eisblock abrutscht und zusätzlich eine hohe Lawinengefahr herrscht