Video of the terrifying moment 300,000 cubic metres of rock collapsed in Swiss Alps landslide

  • Fears raised that another 500,000 cubic meters of debris that could come down the mountainside
  • A school and businesses at the foot of the mountain have been closed until Monday at the earliest

By Lawrence Conway

Published: | Updated:


A huge slab of mountainside has collapsed in Switzerland, sending thousands of tonnes of rock sliding into a valley.

The dramatic landslide at the Valegion mountain on Monday was captured on film and put on YouTube by Swiss Broadcasting.

Scroll down for video

Danger: The slab of rock that broke away from a mountain in southern Switzerland on Monday and crashed into the valley below close to the village of Preonzo

Danger: The slab of rock that broke away from a mountain in southern Switzerland on Monday and crashed into the valley below close to the village of Preonzo

Closure: Police and spectators watch the slab of rock breaking away from the Valegion mountain and crashed into the valley
Closure: Police and spectators watch the slab of rock breaking away from the Valegion mountain and crashing into the valley below

Closure: Police and spectators watch the slab of rock breaking away from the Valegion mountain and crashing into the valley below

The landslide near Preonzo in the Alps resulted in 300,000 cubic metres of rock being displaced, CNN reports.

Geologists say the cliff has remained stable since Monday's incident, but the area has been classified as a danger zone, World Radio Switzerland reports.

There are fears that there are another 500,000 cubic meters of debris that could still come down the mountainside.

Start: Clouds of dust can be seen at the top of the mountain as the landslide begins near Preonzo in the Alps

Start: Clouds of dust gathered at the top of the mountain as the landslide continued near Preonzo in the Alps

Swept away: The debris at the front of the landslide continue to push all before them, as trees and rocks slide down the hill

Swept away: The debris at the front of the landslide continue to push all before them, as trees and rocks slide down the hill

Peril: Buildings below the landslide, including a school, have been closed for fear of more rock coming away from the mountain

Peril: Buildings below the landslide, including a school, have been closed for fear of more rock coming away from the mountain

Nature: Pine trees can be seen being dragged down the mountainside as the huge volume of rock comes away
Nature: Pine trees can be seen being dragged down the mountainside as the huge volume of rock comes away

Nature: Pine trees can be seen being dragged down the mountainside as the huge volume of rock comes away

Height: Cracks in the land at the top of the mountain can be seen amid fears of a further landslide

Height: Cracks in the land at the top of the mountain can be seen amid fears of a further landslide

A school and businesses at the foot of the cliff remain closed until Monday, according to World Radio Switzerland, but one is believed to have been injured.

Geologists say the dry weather has stabilized the cliff so far, but because of rain predicted on Sunday, they have a look-out to keep an eye on the mountain.

Incredible moment 300,000 cubic metres of rock collapsed in Swiss Alps landslide

Comments 9

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I feel sorry for the animals that would have been killed. Hopefully it was an instant death and they didn't suffer.

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this will be down to the climate change so the greens will argue

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I blame global warming!!

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Looks like it's crumbling under the weight of all that secreted wealth and super rich tax avoiders with their banker/broker friends to boot.

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No-one hurt - good! Will probably make a great ski run one of these winters . . .

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They must have been expecting it for the helicopter to be there waiting, Fantastic to see. I have seen the result of several landslides in the US. When finished and settled they do not look anywhere near as disasterous, or dangerous as they really are.

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House for sale, stunning views.

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"That looks more like 299,000 cubic metres of rock". Nope - 298,999 cubic metres, tops.

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That looks more like 299,000 cubic metres of rock

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