Kandersteg faces major rockslide risk due to melting permafrost

Authorities and researchers are monitoring a destabilized mountainside above the Swiss village of Kandersteg due to the risk of a major rockslide. The unstable formation, known as Spitze Stei, contains an estimated 15 million to 20 million cubic meters of rock that could collapse.

Geologists attribute this instability to rising temperatures and melting permafrost. As glaciers recede and frozen ground thaws, water infiltrates rock fissures, removing the ice that previously acted as a cement to hold slopes together. This phenomenon follows a May 2025 disaster in nearby Blatten, where a massive rock-and-ice release buried much of the village.

Kandersteg, a village of approximately 1,300 residents, has implemented safety measures including evacuation routes and constant monitoring. Authorities state that a minimum 24-hour warning would be issued in the event of an imminent major collapse. Beyond the threat to the village, a collapse could also impact the nearby Oeschinen Lake.