瑞士瓦莱州Blatten高位远程崩滑碎屑流成灾特征与级联放大效应

李滨; 高杨; 庄宇; 刘晓杰; 张晗; 秦林鹏; 郭桢; 殷跃平

doi:10.3799/dqkx.2025.239

Volume 50 Issue 12

Dec. 2025

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Article Navigation > Earth Science > 2025 > 50(12): 4950-4969

Li Bin, Gao Yang, Zhuang Yu, Liu Xiaojie, Zhang Han, Qin Linpeng, Guo Zhen, Yin Yueping, 2025. Characteristics and Cascading Effects of the Blatten Avalanche in the Swiss Alps. Earth Science, 50(12): 4950-4969. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.239

Citation:

Li Bin, Gao Yang, Zhuang Yu, Liu Xiaojie, Zhang Han, Qin Linpeng, Guo Zhen, Yin Yueping, 2025. Characteristics and Cascading Effects of the Blatten Avalanche in the Swiss Alps. Earth Science, 50(12): 4950-4969. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.239

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Characteristics and Cascading Effects of the Blatten Avalanche in the Swiss Alps

doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.239

Li Bin^{1
,
,},
Gao Yang^{1
,
,
,},
Zhuang Yu²,
Liu Xiaojie³,
Zhang Han¹,
Qin Linpeng⁴,
Guo Zhen^{4, 5},
Yin Yueping⁶

1.
Institute of Geological Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
2.
College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
3.
School of Civil Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China
4.
College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
5.
Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering of Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
6.
China Institute of Geo-Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100081, China

Received Date: 2025-08-26
Publish Date: 2025-12-25

Abstract

Abstract

On 28 May 2025, a large rock-ice avalanche occurred at the Blatten village in Valais, Switzerland. The failure mobilized approximately 8.3 million m³ of material, traveled 3 300 m, and deposited over an area of 2.66 km². The Blatten avalanche caused one fatality, buried the Blatten village and dammed the Lonza River. Integrating remote sensing analysis, seismic signal interpretation and numerical modeling, this study reconstructs the event and identifies its pronounced cascade amplification effects. The failure evolved through three distinct stages: high-altitude collapse, glacier melting and deformation, and transformation into a long-runout avalanche. Progressive debris accumulation and gradual glacier weakening were the key drivers of the large-scale hazard. In addition, low-friction ice and meltwater markedly reduced motion resistance, facilitating the long-runout movement. These findings highlight the need to account for the potential of multiple small-scale failures cascading into catastrophic events in avalanche risk assessments. The Blatten disaster offers important implications for hazard zoning and the planning of major infrastructure projects in high-mountain regions of western China.
- Blatten avalanche,
- initiation process,
- cascade amplification,
- dynamic,
- LPF3D,
- engineering geology

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Characteristics and Cascading Effects of the Blatten Avalanche in the Swiss Alps

doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2025.239

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