Rockslide in Blatten: Valais faces millions in damages without compulsory insurance!

Rockslide in Blatten: Valais faces millions in damages without compulsory insurance!

There is no compulsory building insurance in the canton of Valais, which is particularly worrying given recent events. A serious rock fall in Blatten could have caused damage amounting to several hundred million francs. This situation raises the question of how effectively the existing insurance models can provide security here. Loud SRF Only four cantons in Switzerland, including Valais, are exempt from the building insurance requirement. While in most other cantons homeowners are obliged to take out such insurance, in Valais they have to resort to the private market, as banks usually still require insurance when taking out mortgages.

The rock fall in Blatten was officially classified as natural damage, which means that private insurance companies have to cover the resulting damage. The exact amount of damage cannot currently be estimated. However, the Swiss Insurance Association (SVV) estimates that the damage could amount to several hundred million francs, while Mobiliar Insurance plans to set up a mobile claims center on site once the danger zone is cleared. Historical data shows that damage caused by landslides and rockfalls typically only accounts for around 1.2 percent of all damage to buildings.

Solidarity in insurance

Although exact figures about insurance coverage in Valais are missing, the SVV assumes high insurance coverage. A law stipulates that everything that is insured against fire must also be insured against natural hazards. As part of the regulations for private natural hazard insurance, the principle of double solidarity exists: On the one hand, there is solidarity between insured persons, which means that a uniform premium applies to all customers in the mandatory basic protection. On the other hand, the natural hazard pool ensures financial compensation between the insurance companies.

The natural hazard pool has covered almost eight billion francs in damages since 1970 and organizes reinsurance worth billions. This structure contributes to the stable resilience of the Swiss economy. In the coming months, Mobiliar Insurance will play an important role in education and awareness-raising work regarding insurance in Valais.

Current developments and outlook

The situation in Blatten is tense. The Lonza River is completely filled up by the debris and the water is accumulating in a newly formed lake. This not only means an immediate danger for the surrounding communities, but also that the affected insurance companies are now faced with the challenge of carefully examining the individual damage situation. In the event of high damage, insurers can draw on the natural hazard pool to distribute the financial burden.

Overall, financial responsibility following the Blatten rockslide is a complex issue that shows how important it is for homeowners to be clear about their options and insurance terms. Swiss Solidarity has already started a collection campaign for those affected in Lötschental in order to provide support, which will be of great importance during this difficult time.