GENEVA (AP) — Rescue efforts for a 64-year-old man missing after a catastrophic glacier collapse in Switzerland were suspended Thursday due to dangerous conditions. The massive landslide, which occurred Wednesday, unleashed a torrent of rock, ice, and mud that obliterated nearly 90% of a small Alpine village, authorities confirmed.

Destruction in the Alps

The sudden breakup of the Birch Glacier sent debris cascading down the mountainside near the village of Blatten in the Lötschental valley, coating homes and roads in thick mud. Dramatic footage showed buildings partially buried under sludge, with dust clouds billowing into the sky.

Valais police paused search operations Thursday afternoon as falling debris made the area unsafe. Officials warned that the landslide had also blocked the nearby Lonza River, raising concerns about potential flooding from dammed water.

Preventive Evacuation Proves Critical

Authorities had evacuated around 300 residents and livestock earlier this month after detecting instability in the glacier, which contained an estimated 1.5 million cubic meters (52 million cubic feet) of ice. The preemptive action likely saved lives, though the scale of destruction left the village unrecognizable.

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter is scheduled to visit the site Friday to assess the damage.

Climate Crisis Accelerates Glacier Loss

Glaciologists linked the disaster to rapid glacier retreat driven by global warming. Switzerland—home to Europe’s largest glacier volume—lost 4% of its total glacier mass in 2023, following a record 6% decline in 2022. Scientists warn such events will become more frequent as temperatures rise.

The suspended search underscores both the immediate dangers of glacial collapse and the long-term threats posed by climate change in alpine regions.