Frankfurt (Germany), September 23 (LaPresse) – A massive rockfall has occurred on the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, with large masses of rock breaking loose from the slope on the border between Germany and Austria since Tuesday morning. Several videos are circulating on social media showing a massive cloud of dust spreading from the mountain to the town of Grainau, accompanied by loud booms. According to the Bergwacht, the Grainau mountain rescue service, the rocks fell directly along the ridge bordering the two countries. There are currently no reports of damage to structures or trails. The affected area is particularly rugged, and there are no hiking trails in the steep and difficult-to-access section below the point of the rockfall. Drones will be flying over the area today to assess conditions. Rockfall continued on Wednesday. “Something is still breaking loose,” said Franz Doerfler, deputy head of the Bergwacht in Grainau. According to Doerfler, phenomena of this type on the Zugspitze are no longer surprising, but the scale of the event is unusual for the 2,962-meter-high mountain. The phenomenon could also be linked to the reduction of permafrost. According to Doerfler, the rocky terrain of the Zugspitze is held compact by permafrost, which is decreasing with rising temperatures due to climate change, favoring greater instability of the rock. The landslide had no impact on the operation of the lifts on the Tyrolean side of the Zugspitze. The Tiroler Zugspitzbahn and Ehrwalder Almbahn operated normally on Wednesday. No damage or consequences were reported in the municipality of Ehrwald. On the Bavarian side, there are no restrictions on the Zugspitze cable car either. According to the company, there are no risks to either the mountain station or the lift, which are constantly monitored by independent bodies and using sensors. The responsible geologist has been informed of the incident. Smaller rockfalls had been observed in the past on the Zugspitze, but an event of this magnitude had never been documented before. In Bavaria, significant landslides had also recently occurred on the Rubihorn in the Allgaeu and at the Trischuebel Pass in Berchtesgaden National Park.
Germany: Massive Rockfall on the Zugspitze, the Country’s Highest Mountain
Frankfurt (Germany), September 23 (LaPresse) – A massive rockfall has occurred on the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, with large masses of rock breaking loose from the slope on the border between Germany and Austria since Tuesday morning. Several videos are circulating on social media showing a massive cloud of dust spreading from the mountain to the town of Grainau, accompanied by loud booms. According to the Bergwacht, the Grainau mountain rescue service, the rocks fell directly along the ridge bordering the two countries. There are currently no reports of damage to structures or trails. The affected area is particularly rugged, and there are no hiking trails in the steep and difficult-to-access section below the point of the rockfall. Drones will be flying over the area today to assess conditions. Rockfall continued on Wednesday. “Something is still breaking loose,” said Franz Doerfler, deputy head of the Bergwacht in Grainau. According to Doerfler, phenomena of this type on the Zugspitze are no longer surprising, but the scale of the event is unusual for the 2,962-meter-high mountain. The phenomenon could also be linked to the reduction of permafrost. According to Doerfler, the rocky terrain of the Zugspitze is held compact by permafrost, which is decreasing with rising temperatures due to climate change, favoring greater instability of the rock. The landslide had no impact on the operation of the lifts on the Tyrolean side of the Zugspitze. The Tiroler Zugspitzbahn and Ehrwalder Almbahn operated normally on Wednesday. No damage or consequences were reported in the municipality of Ehrwald. On the Bavarian side, there are no restrictions on the Zugspitze cable car either. According to the company, there are no risks to either the mountain station or the lift, which are constantly monitored by independent bodies and using sensors. The responsible geologist has been informed of the incident. Smaller rockfalls had been observed in the past on the Zugspitze, but an event of this magnitude had never been documented before. In Bavaria, significant landslides had also recently occurred on the Rubihorn in the Allgaeu and at the Trischuebel Pass in Berchtesgaden National Park.