Hochvogel mountain faces risk of massive rockslide

Scientists are warning of a potential massive rockslide on Hochvogel, a 2,592-meter peak in the Allgäu Alps located on the border between Germany and Austria. Experts estimate that up to 400,000 cubic meters of rock and debris could collapse down the slope.

A fissure that has existed since the 19th century has expanded from being shoulder-width to several meters wide, reaching up to six meters in width and over 60 meters in depth. Researchers have been monitoring this hotspot for 12 years, utilizing over 30 high-precision sensors and drones equipped with laser scanners. This spring, movement rates were recorded at five millimeters per week, which is significantly faster than the Alpine average of 1.8 millimeters per year.

Climate change is cited as a factor accelerating the process. Johannes Leinauer of the Technical University of Munich noted that intense rainfall, thunderstorms, and melting snow are clearly influencing the mountain's stability. While climbing is currently prohibited from the Austrian side, access from the German side remains open.