A massive glacier collapse in southern Switzerland sent rock, ice, and mud cascading down a mountainside on May 28, largely engulfing the Alpine village of Blatten. Video footage showed buildings partially buried under a thick layer of sludge, while clouds of dust expanded into the air.
Regional police confirmed a 64-year-old man is missing, with search and rescue teams deploying drones equipped with thermal cameras. Officials said a large section of the Birch Glacier had broken off, triggering the landslide and burying parts of the nearby Lonza riverbed, raising concerns about potential water blockage and flooding.
Around 300 residents and livestock were evacuated days before the collapse, as scientists had been closely monitoring the 52 million cubic foot (1.5 million cubic meter) glacier. Experts have long warned that rising global temperatures are accelerating glacial retreat in the Alps, increasing the risk of such catastrophic events.
Throughout history, there have been many events that led to mass evacuations. The reasons for people leaving their homes and fleeing vary, but such extreme measures are usually deployed in the face of a natural disaster or a man-made event such as war.In this gallery, we take you on a journey through the most significant mass evacuations to have ever occurred. Click on and get to know all about them.