Rockslide in Blatten: compulsory insurance causes great concern!

Rockslide in Blatten: compulsory insurance causes great concern!

On June 1, 2025, the village of Blatten in Switzerland was almost completely buried under rubble, ice and mud after a devastating landslide. This natural disaster not only raises questions about the safety of the affected region, but also highlights the problem of insurance obligations in Switzerland and Germany. While discussions are taking place in Germany about compulsory insurance for natural hazards, the canton of Valais remains without such a regulation.

The exact impact of climate change on these events is unclear, but experts note that such disasters are becoming increasingly common. In Germany, the risks of floods and heavy rain events are increasing, which means that only around half of the buildings are insured against natural hazards. In this context, the black-red coalition is planning to make natural hazards compulsory insurance. Currently, 99 percent of houses in Germany are insured against storm, hail or fire damage, but protection against natural hazards often requires separate, expensive insurance.

The situation in Blatten and the role of insurance companies

However, in the canton of Valais, to which Blatten belongs, there is no compulsory building insurance. Only four cantons in Switzerland, including Valais, do not require such insurance. While in most cantons homeowners are obliged to take out building insurance, in Valais and the other affected cantons the reserves must be organized themselves. The risks covered by fire, storms, hail or even landslides remain unaffected by the insurance requirement. In the case of Blatten, the rock fall was officially classified as natural damage, which means that private insurance companies have to cover the costs.

The financial damage in Blatten could amount to several hundred million francs, but precise estimates are still pending. Most homeowners in Valais are likely to have taken out private insurance, even if this is not required by law. Banks generally require building insurance when taking out mortgages, which offers a certain level of security.

Economic impact and government support

In 2021, cantonal building insurance companies covered losses of over one billion francs, which was the highest amount in recent years. However, it is important to note that landslide and rockfall damage only accounts for 1.2 percent of all building damage. Reinsurance plays a crucial role in this as it helps to spread the financial burden across multiple shoulders.

In contrast to Germany, where 30 billion euros were made available for reconstruction in the event of a flood disaster like the one in the Ahr Valley, homeowners in Valais often have to cover the costs themselves in the event of natural disasters or hope for government support. The planned compulsory insurance in Germany, which could also affect tenants through additional costs, aims to provide broader coverage. In France, for example, compulsory insurance has been in place since 1982 and is considered successful. Such regulation could also be advantageous in the Swiss canton of Valais in order to better cushion the financial risks for those affected.

Mobiliar Insurance plans to bring a mobile claims center to the affected area as soon as the danger zone is cleared. This measure shows that, despite the challenges that disasters pose, the focus is on protecting the population. Ultimately, committed climate policy remains essential to minimize the risk of such events.

Swiss Solidarity has also started a collection campaign for those affected in Lötschental in order to provide the necessary help as quickly as possible.

Further details on the subject of insurance changes and responsibilities can be found in the reports from Corrective and SRF.