- Rockfall near Zugspitze: not unusual according to geologists
A rockslide near the Zugspitze has caused a stir in Austria. According to a geologist from the Austrian state of Tyrol, however, it was a relatively small event, similar to those that occur regularly in the area.
Over the weekend, witnesses filmed a large cloud of stone and dust rumbling down the valley between Ehrwald, Schneefernerkopf, and Sonnenspitz. Fortunately, no one was injured. "The area is becoming increasingly dangerous for hikers," said Regina Poberschnigg, head of the local mountain rescue service, in an interview with the "Tiroler Tageszeitung," citing climate change.
Landesgeologe Thomas Figl told the German Press Agency that, based on his initial estimate, no more than 100 cubic meters of rock had detached from the affected rock face. In the past, there have been larger rockslides that received less attention. "It was overall a small event that literally raised a lot of dust," he said about the recent rockslide.
Cause: Gravity, not melting ice
Figl could neither confirm nor deny whether such incidents have become more frequent at this location. Other break-off points on the rock face and the debris field at the foot of the mountain slope indicate that it has been a clearly recognizable danger zone for some time, he said. Given the height and location, the geologist does not believe that melting permafrost caused the rockslide on Saturday. "It's simply a matter of gravity," he said.
Last year, the entire peak of the Tyrolean Fluchthorn collapsed, with around one million cubic meters of rock sliding off. In this case, melting permafrost - the ice that acts like glue in the rock - was the cause, as Figl explained at the time.
The geologist mentioned that rockfall events similar to the recent one are common in the area, indicating that rockfall and rockfall are regular occurrences in this region. The large cloud of stone and dust witnessed over the weekend was likely caused by a small-scale rockfall, contributing to the ongoing concern about safety for hikers due to climate change-induced instability in the area.
