A Swiss village is buried after a glacier collapses in the Alps

The village of Blatten, in a valley below the Bietschhorn mountain in the Swiss Alps, was destroyed Wednesday by a landslide after part of the huge Birch Glacier collapsed. A local river is now blocked and forming a lake that is flooding buildings that remain, authorities said.

The Birch Glacier above the village of Blatten collapsed and caused a landslide that has buried most of the village. Authorities had evacuated residents earlier this month, but one person is missing.

(Image credit: ALEXANDRE AGRUSTI)