Blatten VS: Who helps after the devastating destruction caused by a landslide?

Blatten VS: Who helps after the devastating destruction caused by a landslide?

On May 30, 2025, a devastating landslide caused immense destruction in the village of Blatten in the canton of Valais. Approximately 3 million cubic meters of rubble have largely buried the village, causing around 300 residents to lose their homes. Tragically, one person even goes missing, further dramatizing the situation. The estimated damage amounts to several hundred million francs, which poses major challenges for the affected residents.

There is no compulsory building insurance in Valais, which makes the situation particularly complicated for many. However, the majority of residents have private household contents insurance that covers natural damage such as rock falls and landslides. However, many affected people could be underinsured because their insurance amounts are often not adjusted to the real values ​​of their possessions. An example illustrates this problem: For household goods worth 100,000 francs, an insured sum of only 80,000 francs could mean underinsurance of 20 percent.

Challenges in claims settlement

Commercial and agricultural operators often face even more complex challenges. Property damage is only insured if there is a voluntary commercial policy, and in the event of a total loss, building insurance usually only covers the value of the building, which means that financial security is often not sufficient. Many agricultural operations are usually only insured against hail, but not against landslides.

The settlement of damages is complicated by several stumbling blocks. These include the reconstruction obligation, which requires that insurance companies only pay the full replacement value if reconstruction is carried out on the same or a comparable property. Careful documentation of the previous condition is also often difficult, which further complicates insurance payouts.

Help and support

In the current crisis, the federal government, the canton and private organizations such as Caritas and the Swiss Red Cross reacted quickly and offered emergency aid. So far, around 400,000 francs have been collected for those affected. Caritas takes care of evaluating the needs of residents and offers quick financial support, especially for everyday items. In addition, uninsured victims may be able to access public assistance, which raises questions about the fairness and equity of support measures.

Temporary additional costs, such as rental costs or other expenses after evacuations, can be covered by additional insurance coverage, but often only for a limited period of time. Those affected also have the opportunity to apply to Caritas to cover these evacuation-related costs.

What happened in Blatten not only raises questions about financial security and claims settlement, but could also trigger discussions about insurance and social policy. The need for a thorough review of existing insurance models and policy support is clear. Without a doubt, the municipality of Blatten is now faced with the urgent task of offering its residents a point of contact for financial help and support in finding accommodation.