Ordered evacuation of Brienz: Is it worth saving endangered villages?

In early July, a single sentence ignited a debate across Switzerland. Lukas Rühli, head of research at the liberal think tank Avenir Suisse, suggested on Swiss television that certain Swiss valleys and settlements might no longer be viable to maintain. His comment, aired on SRF’s “10 vor 10,” came as intense storms ravaged regions like Ticino, Valais, and Misox, casting a harsh spotlight on the future of communities at risk from climate-driven natural disasters.

Rühli’s remark triggered a wave of responses from those in affected areas, with local leaders pushing back against the notion of abandoning their homes. Graubünden’s SP National Councilor Jon Pult voiced outrage, calling it “cynical” to consider economic factors in deciding the fate of residents’ homes. Rühli, however, clarified in an interview with NZZ that he never proposed evacuating entire valleys but raised the need to weigh the costs and benefits of maintaining villages in high-risk areas.

An example of such a dilemma is Brienz, a small village in Graubünden with around 80 residents who, in July, were evacuated for the second time in just over a year due to landslide threats. Authorities are investing 40 million Swiss francs to drill a drainage tunnel aimed at stabilizing the sliding slope threatening Brienz. However, if the worst happens, this effort could be futile if the mountain ultimately swallows the village.

Reflecting on the matter, Rühli noted the difficult decisions involved: “Given the 80 people who live in this area, the question arises as to whether the effort is worth it.” Notably, the Rhaetian Railway line, a cantonal road, and a high-voltage power line are also in the path of potential landslides, further complicating the decision.

This issue extends beyond Brienz. Schwanden, another small town, was forced to reevaluate its future when a landslide destroyed parts of the village in late 2023. After authorities mapped out hazard zones, around 30 properties were labeled as uninhabitable, with some homes ordered for demolition. The decision, while distressing, offered residents clarity on where safety concerns lay and the necessary next steps for relocation.

Switzerland does not depopulate or demolish villages easily, as illustrated by the protracted legal battle in Weggis, a town on Lake Lucerne. Following severe storms in 2005, authorities deemed five houses too dangerous to inhabit due to rockfall threats and ultimately ordered their demolition. When one property owner challenged the decision, the Federal Court upheld the expropriation, prioritizing resident safety over property rights.

These cases highlight that the issue of endangered settlements is not confined to mountainous areas. Across Switzerland, an estimated 1.8 million people live in potentially at-risk zones due to natural hazards, with damage most often occurring in populated lowlands rather than remote valleys. Rühli noted that a cost-benefit analysis of protective measures will soon become necessary in many high-risk zones.