Blatten

A massive landslide from the Birch Glacier in Blatten has created a debris cone threatening nearby villages with potential tidal waves and debris flows, as the glacier's movement could lead to further catastrophic events.

Scientists say that rising global temperatures are causing collapsing mountains as ancient permafrost begins to thaw.

Rockfall buries access road but stops just in front of hamlet, which had been evacuated in anticipation.

The word for it here is Schneemangel or snow shortage. There's a phrase for when the snow is plentiful too - das weisse Gold - white gold. It's a reflection of how many alpine communities depend on winter sports for their livelihoods. World Cup skiers will race on artificial snow this Saturday as the Alps see record high temperatures.