An incident reminiscent of the Kedarnath disaster occurred in France after heavy rainfall caused a glacial lake to burst. This unleashed a torrent of water, ice blocks, rocks, soil, and debris, which rapidly descended upon La Berarde, a picturesque ski resort frequented by skiers worldwide.
Watch the aftermath in this video
This town, situated within the Ecrins National Park in the Alps, was hit by a flash flood when the glacial lake at an altitude of 2600 meters burst its barriers, leading to the destruction of the Etançons Torrent bridge, the sole access point to La Berarde.
Source: aajtak
A Lake of Disaster at 2600 meters
The Bonpierre Glacier sits above La Berarde in the Alps, where a new glacial lake, formed just 40 hours before the disaster, ruptured at an elevation of 8530 feet. Scientists refer to it as a supraglacial lake, formed swiftly due to rainfall and melting snow, whose collapse devastated La Berarde.
The nearby Swiss town of Zermatt experienced similar weather conditions, resulting in a flash flood along the Mattervispa River, eroding its banks and flooding the town. Both areas have seen their transportation systems grind to a halt, with neither trains nor roads operational.
Swiss authorities have declared this calamity a Level 4 disaster. The Rhone River and its tributaries are also flooded, raising concerns for potential flooding in additional locations. The source of the disaster lies in the Alps, with peaks at least 13,123 feet high.
