- At midnight, a large stream of debris fell in the so-called “island” area on the mountainside above the evacuated village of Brienz/Brinzaul in Graubünden.
- The rock masses apparently only just missed the village, as the community announced on Twitter.
- At midnight, the municipality declared phase blue – the highest of the five danger levels.
- The evacuation of the village with its 84 inhabitants was completed on May 12th.
According to the municipality, the rock masses have left a meter-high deposit on the cantonal road near the school building. So far there have been no indications of other damage in the village.
Between around 11 p.m. and midnight, a large part of the island slipped very quickly with a roar, reports Albula community spokesman Christian Gartmann early on Friday morning. The population in the entire valley basin heard this clearly. The blue phase was then immediately heralded in the pitch-dark night. The traffic routes below Brienz were closed to be on the safe side.
Brienz was very lucky. The rock masses have come to a standstill a few meters before the first house.
According to Gartmann, daylight shows: “Brienz was very lucky. The rock masses have come to a standstill a few meters before the first house, the old school building. A few meters behind, the rock masses are already piling up several meters high.»
Damage to the village cannot be ruled out
For the time being, no information can be given about possible damage in the village, says Gartmann. However, damage caused by smaller splinter stones from falling boulders cannot be ruled out. These could be thrown several hundred meters away.
During the course of the day, the geologists and natural hazard experts will fly over the area by helicopter in order to precisely determine the extent and any further danger to the village. However, according to Gartmann, the first pictures show that a large part of the island has slipped and made a huge furrow in the slope. “But I doubt that the whole island has already slipped,” says Gartmann.
Roads closed, new Tour de Suisse route
The cantonal roads from Tiefencastel in the direction of Surava (Landwasserstrasse) and Lenzerheide (Julierstrasse) as well as the Albula line of the Rhaetian Railway were closed.
The rock avalanche also has an impact on the Tour de Suisse: Because the route over the Albula Pass cannot be driven on, the start of the 6th stage will be moved from La Punt to Chur. The organizers share this on the Tour de Suisse website with. The start in Chur is at 12.30 p.m. This solution was prepared together with the authorities of the canton of Graubünden and the city of Chur.
Rock comes faster and faster
According to the municipality, the speeds of the rock masses have increased tenfold since Thursday morning.
A rockfall had only occurred on Tuesday on the mountain slope at risk of falling. Since then, experts have been expecting a change in the dynamics on the mountain, but with an unclear direction.
Since May 12, the danger level red has applied in the Grisons mountain village of Brienz. This means that the entire village was no longer allowed to be entered. The highest alert level, blue, has been in effect since around midnight.
A total of six roadblocks were erected. The village is electronically monitored. In addition, a no-fly zone was set up over Brienz.