The Graubünden village of Brienz/Brinzauls is sliding downhill faster and faster. Residents must prepare for major damage to houses and pipes. In addition, the slope above the village could slide. The probability of this is still low, but it has increased. Close monitoring of the landslide is being further strengthened, and the municipality has taken further safety precautions.
The “Brienz slide” in the Graubünden village of Brienz/Brinzauls is increasing in speed. Both in the village itself and in the overlying landslide on the mountain, the movement that has been known for decades has increased in recent years. The measurement points in the village are now up to one meter downhill, those on the rock edge above the village at more than four meters per year.
The municipality of Albula/Alvra, to which Brienz/Brinzauls belongs, informed the population on Friday evening about the latest measurement results, monitoring of the landslide and measures to ensure the safety of residents.
A possible worsening of the situation is not to be expected suddenly, but rather over several weeks or months. Nevertheless, supported by the canton, the municipality has also made preparations as a precautionary measure for a possible rapid evacuation of the village and parts of the neighboring villages of Vazerol, Surava and Tiefencastel.
Landslide in the village and possible rock slide
Geologists and natural hazards experts from the Grisons Cantonal Office for Forests and Natural Hazards (AWN) presented various scenarios for future development. The landslides of the entire village of Brienz/Brinzauls are already causing damage to buildings and pipes, but this can be repaired in most cases. Should the landslide continue to accelerate, this can lead to further, even severe damage to buildings and supply infrastructure.
They could make buildings uninhabitable and make it very difficult to supply the village.
Today, boulders fall sporadically from the area above the village, endangering the meadows below and the connecting road to Lantsch/Lenz and Lenzerheide. For safety reasons, the municipality therefore issued a ban on entry there in September 2018.
A further acceleration of the rock masses above the village is not expected suddenly, but rather over weeks or months. It could endanger the village of Brienz/Brinzauls if larger rock masses slip or fall.
In such a case, the village would have to be evacuated. Should large volumes slide or fall, they can also endanger parts of the neighboring towns of Vazerol, Surava and Tiefencastel. The probability that the villages will be affected by a landslide or landslide is still very low, but it has increased.
Preparations for safety reasons
Several exploratory drillings have already been carried out in and around Brienz/Brinzauls to examine the subsoil. Further drilling will follow. Using laser, satellite positioning and radar technology, landslides in the village and the area above it are constantly closely monitored. This allows experts to continuously assess the situation and to warn the community and population at an early stage should the situation worsen.
The municipality has also taken initial preventive measures for possible evacuations.
Supported by the Grisons Office for Military and Civil Protection (AMZ), the municipal management staff came together for training courses and preparatory planning. As a precautionary measure, the evacuation of Brienz/Brinzauls and parts of the towns of Vazerol, Surava and Tiefencastel was planned. The community's management organization would now be able to evacuate people and animals in an orderly manner within a few hours.
The municipality is supported by numerous experts from the canton and external experts in monitoring and evaluating the situation and preparing preventive measures.
On the cantonal side, services from all departments and Graubünden Buildings Insurance (GVG) are involved. The cantonal government and cantonal management staff were informed of the situation.
Information for the population
The information session on Friday was already the third of its kind. The municipality will inform the population and the public again as soon as there is a change in the situation or important decisions have been made.
On the Internet, at www.albula-alvra.ch set up an information page about Brienz Rutsch, via Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlbulaAlvra Current information is published. The municipality is available to answer questions from the affected population.
personals
Municipality of Albula/Alvra
Media service: 079 355 78 78
CSD Engineers AG
Stefan Schneider, geologist
079 219 30 58
Department of Forest and Natural Hazards (AWN)
Andri Largiadèr
081 257 50 23
Office of Military and Civil Protection (AMZ)
Martin Bühler, office manager
081 257 35 22
Graubünden Buildings Insurance (GVG)
Markus Feltscher, Director
081 258 90 01
About Brienz/Brinzauls
The village of Brienz/Brinzauls is a village in the municipality of Albula/Alvra in Mittelbünden, which was merged in 2015. Brienz/Brinzauls is located on a sun terrace on the connecting road from Lenzerheide to Davos at an altitude of around 1150 meters. It has just under 100 inhabitants and up to 200 holiday guests during the season.
The village has been moving since time immemorial: The entire terrace has probably been sliding downhill since the last ice age. Over the past 100 years, Brienz/Brinzauls has moved a few centimeters per year.
In the last twenty years, however, the landslide has accelerated significantly: The movement is currently around one meter per year.
The slopes above the village have also been moving for 140 years: In 1877, a rock mass of around 13 million cubic meters began to slide downhill northeast of the village. Since the landslide, now known as “Igl Rutsch”, took place relatively slowly and over several weeks, no people were injured.
pictures
Images can be downloaded free of charge from Flickr for editorial use:
www.flickr.com/photos/gartmannbiz/albums/72157708376304704/with/32818250557/
Information about Brienz Rutsch
Information from the municipality of Albula/Alvra about Brienzer Rutsch is available on the following page:
www.albula-alvra.ch/news/info%20brienzer%20rush/default.htm
Christian Gartmann is a member of the management team of the municipality of Albula/Alvra for Brienz Rutsch and communications officer.