A major landslide at Brienz-Brinzauls

16 June 2023

A major landslide at Brienz-Brinzauls

Overnight on 15/16 June 2023, a major landslide has occurred at Brienz-Brinzauls. The picture this morning shows that a very large mass has slipped, covering much of the area up to the Blick webcam:-

The aftermath of the major landslide at Brienz-Brinzauls on 15/16 June 2023. Screenshot from the Blick TV webcam.

The good news is that the the landslide appears to have missed the village itself. I captured a screenshot of the site late in the day yesterday, having tweeted that there was a large amount of rockfall activity occurring. This was the scene:-

The scene the day before the major landslide at Brienz-Brinzauls on 15/16 June 2023. Screenshot from the Blick TV webcam.

The slider below should allow you to compare the two images:-

During this week the level of rockfall activity has been visibly increasing with time. On 13 June a part of the central part of the landslide, known as the island, collapsed in a series of events that were captured on the Blick TV webcam:-

The collapse of “The Island” at Brienz-Brinzauls on 13 June 2023. Screenshot from the Blick TV webcam.

Meanwhile, Planet captured a very good, high resolution SkySat image of the site on 14 June 2023, after the collapse of The Island:

The site of the 15/16 June 2023 landslide, as captured by a high resolution Planet SkySat instrument. Image copyright Planet, used with permission.

We will await further information from the seismic analyses as to the precise timing of the landslide, the duration and the volume involved. It is undoubtedly a very large collapse. The radar data will also be fascinating as it could have continued to function in the dark. One thing that is certain is that there will be many relieved people this morning, even as analyses will now be needed as to the remaining risk to the village and surrounding area.

Initial news reports suggest that the village has been missed by the landslide, but that it was a very close shave:

“According to the announcement, no evidence was initially found that the rock masses had reached or damaged the village. At dawn it became clear that the island had just missed the village by a hair’s breadth, the statement said. A meter-high deposit formed directly in front of the school building. Whether there was any damage in the village can only be said after an aerial inspection in daylight.”