Switzerland suspends search and rescue operation for missing man in glacier collapse

Local authorities in Switzerland on Thursday afternoon suspended their search-and-rescue operations for a missing man because of a risk of falling debris, after a glacier collapsed and destroyed the vast majority of a village.

Authorities had already evacuated the 300 residents of the village, located in the Lötschental Valley, in recent days over concern that the glacier would collapse. Scientists had been warning about the dangers of the glacier for years because of global warming.

The collapse finally occurred on Wednesday, and destroyed approximately 90% of the village, according to the Associated Press. Only one man has been reported missing, and no fatalities have been reported so far.

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter is expected to visit the area on Friday. It is not clear when the search and rescue operation will resume.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.