- The village of Brienz in Graubünden has to be evacuated.
- The municipal council of Albula decided to evacuate on the recommendation of the municipal leadership staff.
- All residents must have left the village by 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, November 17th. The evacuation is expected to last several months.
The early warning service of the municipality of Albula, to which the village of Brienz belongs, analyzed the danger situation together with the geology and natural hazards specialist group and other geologists and recommended the precautionary evacuation of Brienz next weekend, according to a statement.
“A more in-depth analysis with better data could be carried out yesterday evening,” explained Christian Gartmann, media spokesman for the community leadership team, to SRF. It must be assumed that the village will not be accessible for several months.
In the rubble heap high above Brienz, around 1.2 million cubic meters of rock rubble has been moving down the valley at a rate of 20 to 35 centimeters per day since the second half of September. There is a risk that it will come loose and then slide towards the village as a rapid stream of debris, it was said.
Evacuation in winter poses special challenges
The community board and community leadership want to give the affected residents enough time for the upcoming evacuation. “It is a very difficult task to have to give up your home for several months,” says Gartmann.
The situation is particularly challenging for the farmers in the village as they have to find a place for their animals. Unlike last year, the evacuation now takes place in winter, which makes the situation even more difficult. The cows cannot be brought to the Alps and the stables in the valley are already at capacity.
In order to help farmers and other residents, the authorities are providing support in finding suitable accommodation. “It will be a challenge to find an apartment for everyone,” Gartmann continued. If no accommodation can be found, the option of accommodation in a hotel is also available.
For security reasons, entry is now prohibited. The access roads to Brienz are closed. Only residents and second homes who are evacuating buildings in Brienz have access. The deadline for leaving the village was set at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Swiss
