New expert opinion on the landslide in Bondo GR brings a turnaround
Published: Friday, Dec 22nd 2023, 20:10
Updated At: Friday, Dec 22nd 2023, 20:10
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In a new report on the Bondo landslide, a geologist has come to the conclusion that the authorities took an "unacceptable risk" by not closing the hiking trails in advance. Cantonal employees could end up in court as a result. Eight people lost their lives in the devastating mountain accident in 2017.
In his 60-page report, geologist Thierry Oppikofer came to the conclusion that the hiking trails in the landslide area should have been closed based on a risk analysis of measurements on Piz Cengalo. The "Beobachter" magazine first reported on this on Friday morning and made the report available to the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The experts from the canton of Graubünden interpreted the analysis differently and classified the threat of a landslide as "not significantly changed", Oppikofer wrote in the document. They expected a landslide in the coming weeks and months and therefore only adjusted the warning signs.
Oppikofer, on the other hand, came to the conclusion based on various calculations that the risk of dying on the hiking trail had "increased considerably" and that additional measures should have been taken.
According to the expert opinion, the devastating landslide was preceded by rockfalls and, in addition, torn rock sections and open fissures could be seen on Piz Cengalo, after which an imminent landslide could at least not be ruled out.
Federal Supreme Court rejects cantonal court ruling
In 2020, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court had dismissed the Cantonal Court of Graubünden when the responsible public prosecutor dropped the criminal investigation into the landslide. The highest cantonal instance had initially agreed with the public prosecutor's office that the landslide could not have been foreseen based on reports from the cantonal Office for Forests and Natural Hazards (AWN).
The Federal Supreme Court, on the other hand, upheld an appeal by the relatives of the buried victims, according to which the cantonal court should not have relied solely on the findings of officials, but should have obtained an expert opinion. The case was reopened.
In February of this year, however, the cantonal court rejected an expert proposed by the public prosecutor's office. It considered the geologist to be biased. The Vaud-based Oppikofer was then called in, who has now written his expert opinion. His findings could now lead to the public prosecutor's office bringing charges against the AWN officials for involuntary manslaughter.
According to an article by Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), the public prosecutor's office in Graubünden intends to decide on the next steps at the beginning of 2024. The AWN and other experts involved in the proceedings did not comment to the "Beobachter" and referred to the ongoing proceedings.
Eight people still missing
On August 23, 2017, eight people lost their lives on a hiking trail on Piz Cengalo near Bondo in one of the biggest landslides in Switzerland for over 130 years. They came from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and have been missing ever since.
Three million cubic meters of rock thundered down into the valley in the Val Bondasca side valley of Bergell. The masses of rock rolled as a debris flow into the main Bergell valley. The mountain village of Bondo narrowly escaped destruction. Its 200 or so inhabitants were evacuated.
©Keystone/SDA
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