Martinsloch no longer accessible Huge rockfall near Elm GL - further collapses expected

A huge rockfall has occurred on the large Tschingelhorn in the Glarus Alps, but nobody noticed it at first. The well-known Martinsloch is now no longer accessible to alpinists.

Keystone-SDA

15.10.2024, 20:10

SDA

A huge rockslide fell on the Gross Tschingelhorn diagonally above the famous Martinsloch near Elm GL. This was reported by the Sardona World Heritage Association based in the area. Those responsible are expecting further collapses.

The rockfall from the summit ridge of the Gross Tschingelhorn does not appear to have been noticed by anyone immediately, the Sardona World Heritage Association wrote in a press release on Tuesday. It is likely to have occurred at the beginning of October. Residents of the municipality of Elm GL in particular noticed that the mountain suddenly looked different, geologist Thomas Buckingham told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

The actual extent of the rockfall has not yet been determined. According to Buckingham, it is likely that "certainly more than 10,000 cubic meters" of rock fell into the valley on both the Glarus and Graubünden sides. People and infrastructure were not affected by the rockfall.

The Martinsloch is no longer accessible to mountain hikers due to the rockfall, Buckingham continued. In addition, climbing tours and hikes in the immediate vicinity are currently strongly discouraged.

The area diagonally above the Martinsloch on the Gross Tschingelhorn is known for its high rockfall activity. Recurrent earthquakes in the region could contribute to the loosening of the rocks. However, the Swiss Seismological Service has not recorded any earthquakes in the immediate vicinity in recent days.