# Alps rockfalls and increasing geological instability > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/alps-rockfalls-linked-to-thawing-permafrost > Updated: 2026-10-13T18:41:10.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 4. A series of significant rockfalls has occurred in the Alps, specifically affecting the Zugspitze on the German-Austrian border and Gross Ruchen in Switzerland. At the Zugspitze, an unusual large-scale rockfall on the Tyrolean north face released approximately 13,800 cubic meters of rock at an altitude of 2,800 meters, creating large dust clouds and ongoing instability. Experts and researchers from the Technical University of Munich are investigating the event, noting that temperatures at the nearby Kammstollen have risen from -1.2 to -0.7 degrees Celsius since 2007. In Switzerland, a separate collapse at Gross Ruchen in the canton of Uri saw roughly 2,000 cubic meters of rock break off from the north face at an altitude of 2,900 meters. This event produced a massive dust cloud that reached the Reusstal and Brunnital valleys. No injuries or damage to infrastructure were reported in Unterschächen. Authorities and researchers have linked these geological events to thawing permafrost, which serves as a natural adhesive for rock formations. It is suggested that rising temperatures and extreme heat may be melting frozen water within the rocks, compromising structural stability. These incidents appear to be part of a broader trend of instability across the Alps, with increased rockfalls also being recorded in the Dolomites and Mont Blanc. Furthermore, Swiss glaciers have experienced significant ice loss, with some areas losing nearly 20% of their volume since 2021 due to heatwaves and low snowfall. Recent warnings have emerged regarding Mount Hochvogel in the Allgäu Alps on the German-Austrian border. Scientists estimate a potential rockslide of between 250,000 and 400,000 cubic meters. A long-standing fissure has widened significantly, with researchers describing a main crack up to six meters wide, 35 meters long, and 60 meters deep. ## Claims - Approximately 2,000 cubic meters of rock fell from the north face of Gross Ruchen at an altitude of 2,900 meters. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Extreme heat may have caused frozen water in the rock substrate to melt, reducing the cohesion of the rock masses. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Increased rockfalls in the Alps, including the Dolomites and Mont Blanc, are being linked to thawing permafrost and climate change. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Approximately 13,800 cubic meters of rock broke off from the Tyrolean north face of the Zugspitze. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Permafrost temperatures in the Kammstollen area have risen from -1.2 to -0.7 degrees Celsius since 2007. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-13: Hochvogel mountain faces risk of massive rockslide Scientists warn of a potential 400,000 cubic meter rockslide on Hochvogel mountain at the German-Austrian border due to an expanding fissure and climate-driven weather extremes. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hochvogel-summit-faces-imminent-massive-rockfall ### 2026-10-11: Hochvogel mountain faces massive rockslide risk Scientists warn of a potential 400,000 cubic meter rockslide on Mount Hochvogel at the German-Austrian border due to rapidly widening fissures and accelerated geological movement. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hohfogel-mountain-faces-massive-rockslide-risk-in-the-alps ### 2026-09-29: Alps rockfalls at Zugspitze and Gross Ruchen linked to thawing permafrost Major rockfalls at the Zugspitze and Gross Ruchen in the Alps are being linked to thawing permafrost and extreme heat, highlighting increasing mountain instability due to climate change. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/alps-rockfalls-at-gross-ruchen-and-zugspitze-linked-to-thawing-permafrost ### 2026-09-22: Zugspitze experiences unusual large-scale rockfall An unusually large rockfall has occurred on the Austrian side of the Zugspitze, likely caused by thawing permafrost. No injuries have been reported despite ongoing instability. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zugspitze-experiences-unusual-large-scale-rockfall --- Cite as: Alps rockfalls and increasing geological instability. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/alps-rockfalls-linked-to-thawing-permafrost