Switzerland is planning to invest more than $12.1 million in order to rebuilt infrastructure in the village of Bondo that was hit by a massive landslide in 2017.
The village of Bondo, located near the Italian border, was devastated by the 4-million m3 landslide consisting of mud and rocks that caused the evacuation of about 100 people and 8 fatalities. The landslide, which was the biggest in Switzerland in about 130 years, affected local roads, houses and bridges.
It was probably caused due to melting snow in the Alpes that causes extensive water flows. Such procedures take place for thousands of years and warming temperatures aggravate the phenomenon. The soil structure, water content and pore pressure alterations result in instabilities. Currently, the ground that used to be frozen has started to thaw. “When the ice and the permafrost get warmer than that, it no longer stabilizes the rock. You then have a problem of cohesion between the rock and the ice. This can lead to instabilities,” Marcia Phillips, group leader for snow and permafrost at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), stated in 2017. Since 1864, the average temperature in the country has risen by 2°C.
It's not the first time Switzerland suffered critical damage by landslides. In 2011, a flood protection system was installed in a mountainous region after a hazardous rockslide occurred. Moreover, back in 1806, a slide hit the village of Goldau, which was completely destroyed, killing 457 people.
Swiss government will provide $9.7 million to clean up the region and establish immediate measures by 2023. The village's reconstruction concept includes six sub-projects. An additional $2.1 million will be used to restore forestry infrastructure.
Sources: Swissinfo.ch, Reuters.com
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