published24. August 2022, 16:27
KanderstegThere is a risk of a mega rockfall on Lake Oeschinen – 500,000 cubic meters are in motion
After the rock fall at Lake Oeschinen, the situation has not calmed down. The municipality of Kandersteg reports that a large rock mass is in motion.
The rock fall of August 23, 2022. Around 10,000 cubic meters of rock fell down.
20min/News-Scout
-
The southwestern side of Lake Oeschinen has been closed since 2019 due to the risk of rock falls.
-
Around 10,000 cubic meters of rock broke off on Tuesday and thundered into the valley.
-
Now the municipality of Kandersteg is reporting that there is still movement on the slope.
-
Around 500,000 cubic meters are currently moving at 20 cm per day.
One day following the rock fall on Lake Oeschinen, in which around 10,000 cubic meters of rock thundered into the valley, the municipality of Kandersteg warns on its website. The debris slide at the Stei peak has accelerated sharply since Tuesday. 500,000 cubic meters of rock are moving at a speed of 20 cm/day. “Such high movements have not been measured there before,” it says.
“Crash cannot be ruled out”
And: “The fall of larger rubble volumes from the central landslide cannot be ruled out for the next few days.” The permanent exclusion zone (since 2019) at the south-west end of the lake is now given the high danger level. The “considerable” level now applies to the shore area directly outside the permanent exclusion zone (see map).
The danger level “considerable” also applies in the direction of inhabited areas, along the Öschibach. Further down, dams (marked in blue on the map) protect the outskirts of the community.
The southern lake shore area directly outside the restricted zone is closed until further notice, as is access to the Doldenhornhütte (via Bärentritt) and the Grüenewald hiking trail.
The next situation assessment will follow early Thursday morning, earlier if necessary.
In the lower, central area of the Stei peak (centre of the picture) a large amount of rock is in motion.
20min / hours
On August 23, the first part of the boulders fell – since then 500,000 cubic meters of stone with a thickness of 20 cm have been on the move every day.
20min/News-Scout
The cordoning off of the area can be clearly seen on the webcam of the Berghotel Oeschinensee.
Berghotel Oeschinensee
The Oeschinensee is considered a tourist hotspot. In summer, the hiking trail from Kandersteg to the lake is always very busy. The mountain panorama with the lake is a popular subject on Instagram. A steep hiking trail leads from the Oeschinensee up to the Blüemlisalphütte SAC.
See something, hear something?
Send us your news input!
Save our contact in the messenger of your choice and send exciting videos, photos and documents to the 20-minute editor quickly and easily.
If it is an accident or other misfortune, please alert the emergency services first.
The use of your contributions by 20 minutes is regulated in our terms and conditions: 20min.ch/agb
Activate the Bern Push now!
Only with the Bern-Push of 20 minutes you get the latest news from the region of Bern, Fribourg, Solothurn and Valais delivered to your mobile phone at lightning speed.
And this is how it works: In the 20-minute app, tap on “Cockpit” in the bottom right-hand corner. There on “Notifications” and then “Next”. Then mark «Bern» for the regions, type «Next» once more and then «Confirm». Voila!
We are also on Instagram. Follow us for posts, stories and competitions from the region – and send us your pictures and inputs: 20 minutes Bern region.
