Chronology of the events in Brienz GR
Published: Sunday, Nov 17th 2024, 15:00
Updated At: Sunday, Nov 17th 2024, 14:00
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Brienz lies on a sunny terrace in the Albula Valley at 1100 meters above sea level. The village's subsoil has been in motion for as long as anyone can remember. The current 80 or so inhabitants have to leave their homes by midday on Sunday. Their village is being evacuated again due to the threat of another rockfall. A chronology of the events so far.
- 2011:A new measuring system automatically monitors the landslide near Brienz GR in the municipality of Albula. An early warning system is operated due to a possible rockfall.
- May 3, 2019:The Graubünden mountain village is sliding downhill faster and faster. Measurements show one meter per year. In recent years, these movements have increased from 30 to 50 and 70 centimetres per year. The mountain above the village is also unstable. The measuring points on the cliff edge are sliding downwards at a rate of more than four meters per year.
- June 21, 2019:A major landslide is imminent. The municipality informs the population what to do in the event of a rapid evacuation.
- March 18, 2021:The landslide velocities reach new highs. Experts do not rule out a landslide with several 10,000 cubic meters of rock. A 600-metre-long exploratory tunnel is to be used to better investigate the village's subsoil. This should provide information on whether the landslide can be slowed down or stopped by deep dewatering. The federal government and canton are covering a large part of the costs of CHF 10.6 million.
- May 9, 2023:A rock volume of two million cubic meters threatens to collapse above the village. The authorities order an evacuation. All 84 inhabitants have to leave the village within three days.
- May 19, 2023:Students and lecturers from the Bern University of the Arts, the Graubünden Monument Preservation Office and the Cultural Property Protection Office bring the late Gothic altar from the church of St. Calixtus in Brienz to safety.
- May 28, 2023:The speed of the rock masses on the slope at risk of falling has tripled since the decision to evacuate.
- June 16, 2023:Around 1.2 million cubic meters of rock mass tumble down the valley during the night. The enormous torrent of debris only just misses the village, buries the road to Lenzerheide and takes a small hut with it.
- July 3, 2023: The evacuated population can return to the village.
- July 17, 2023: Brienz receives a drainage tunnel costing almost 40 million francs. The aim is to slow down the slide of the village. The Albula municipal assembly approved a loan without a dissenting vote. 90 percent of the costs will be covered by the federal government and canton.
- September 1, 2023:The 500-year-old winged altar is back in its place in the church of Brienz after its restoration.
- 22 April 2024: Construction of the 2.3-kilometre-long drainage tunnel begins. It is intended to protect the mountain village from further damage caused by slipping ground and falling rock. Completion is planned for summer 2027.
- November 12, 2024:A rock avalanche threatens the village. The authorities order another evacuation. Within five days, all residents and animals have to leave the village. The altar is also brought to safety for a second time.
- 17. November 2024:
Brienz was evacuated at midday on Sunday and will remain deserted for an indefinite period.
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