Swiss village braces as thawing permafrost loosens mountain rock

In the Swiss canton of Bern, the village of Kandersteg sits beneath a mountain formation known as Spitze Stei, a mass of rock that scientists warn could give way in a massive landslide. The estimated 15 to 20 million cubic metres of unstable material hangs over the community of 1,300 people, a threat linked directly to the effects of climate change on frozen ground.

As global temperatures rise, permafrost — the frozen soil and rock that binds mountain slopes together — is melting. Markus Stoffel, a climate and natural risks professor at the University of Geneva, explained that the ice within mountain debris acts like cement. When it melts, slopes become increasingly unstable, raising the likelihood of rockfalls and landslides across the Alps.

The concern is not hypothetical. In May 2025, a large mass of rock and glacier ice thundered into the nearby Loetschental valley, burying much of the evacuated village of Blatten under mud and debris. That event has sharpened attention on similar risks elsewhere.

Despite the danger, residents of Kandersteg say they are not living in fear. Brigitte Jüni, a local inhabitant, acknowledged the situation but noted that authorities have taken all possible precautions. "It's nature and you never know," she said. Fellow resident Rudolf Isler drew a distinction with Blatten, saying the situation here is different, and that falling stones from Spitze Stei have been observed for years.

Experts point out that the rock is under constant monitoring and that evacuation plans are in place. They also note that a gradual breakdown is more likely than a sudden, catastrophic collapse. Still, the long-term outlook is sobering. Nathan Solothurnmann, a climate and energy expert with Greenpeace Switzerland, warned that landslides and avalanches will become more frequent. He suggested that some valleys or villages may eventually become uninhabitable, either because the risk becomes too great or because the cost of protecting infrastructure becomes prohibitive.

For now, Kandersteg continues its quiet Alpine existence, but the mountain above serves as a stark reminder of the forces being unleashed by a warming planet.