The risk situation for the village of Brienz/Brinzauls has fundamentally changed. There is no longer any danger due to a fall in the “Plateau East” or the “rubble pile above” and the newly created rubble pile above the village has largely come to a standstill. Until the risk posed by the new circumstances can be reassessed, the precautionary evacuation must continue.
One week after the demolition of the former “Plateau East” and the “rubble dump above Brienz/Brinzauls”, the early warning service carried out a situation assessment. The situation on the mountain has generally calmed down considerably as a result of the new conditions.
In the course of November, the “Plateau East” high above the village had accelerated more and more. It took place last week in an abortion event lasting several days. More than 100 rockfalls onto the “rubble pile above” below were released from the rock mass that had become unstable. The increasing load of rockfalls sharply accelerated the “rubble pile above.”
A large demolition of 200,000 to 300,000 cubic meters of rock onto the ever faster “rubble pile above” could not be ruled out. As a result of the progressive movement, the “Plateau East” was then increasingly broken down into a deposit of rubble and combined with the “rubble pile above” to form a slow stream of debris. At times, he moved several meters per hour towards the village. As a result, the existing debris deposits of the “Schutthalde oben” were also pushed around 125 m down the valley into flatter terrain.
The speeds of the new rubble dump slowed down sharply within a few days of the demolition event and have largely come to a standstill in the lower area. The lowest part of the debris cone behind the village did not move due to the demolition event.
Get to know the mountain again
For experts from the early warning service, the events of the past week represent the best possible outcome for the village of Brienz/Brinzauls: With the joint departure as a slow stream of debris, both the risk from the “East Plateau” and the risk from the “rubble dump above” were eliminated.
As after every major demolition event, the terrain — and thus possibly also the movement behavior of the remaining areas of the mountain — has changed. In order for the early warning service to be able to assess the situation more precisely, it must carry out comprehensive analyses and gain experience with the new conditions on the mountain.
As a result of the demolition event of the past week, a large number of measurement points were destroyed. On Thursday, a helicopter was used to install new measurement points again in the new rubble dump, on Plateau West and in the “Pro Fop” area.
Experts from the early warning service carried out an initial assessment of the new conditions arising from the helicopter: At present, the biggest risk to the village area is posed by large fall blocks located high up on the mountain in fresh areas. They can fall down to the lower rubble heap and possibly beyond.
When crashing blocks hit lying blocks, splinters can also be created, which can fly far and pose an additional hazard.
No immediate cancellation of evacuation
Although the situation has fundamentally improved since the demolition of the “Plateau East” and the “Rubble Heap above”, the ongoing evacuation cannot be lifted for the time being. Due to the new conditions, future developments on the mountain are still uncertain. They must continue to be observed in December and January and analysed using measurement data. Only then can the experts from the early warning service and the consulting geologists reassess the geological conditions and the risk.
Temporary access to the village is expected to be possible again during the day before the holidays.
Before that, however, it is necessary to clarify the risks posed by large fall blocks and fragmentation stones north of the village. According to the decision of the municipal management staff, once approved by the early warning service, temporary access will be possible for evacuees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Excerpt from the 123rd Brienz Bulletin dated 6.12.2025.
Christian Gartmann has been a communications officer and member of the management staff of the municipality of Albula/Alvra since 2019.