Switzerland's most iconic mountain has already claimed six lives this year.
Keystone
Some experienced mountain guides say Switzerland’s most iconic mountain, the Matterhorn, should be closed to climbers for safety reasons, but other experts disagree, reports the SonntagsZeitung newspaper.
This comes after a guide and his guest plunged to their deaths on the mountain on July 24, following a rock fall. Because of the high risk of rock falls at the site of the accident, the rescuers were also exposed to danger when they recovered the victims, the paper reports. And in early June, a British man died on the mountain, also because of falling rock.
The Matterhorn, which rises to over 4,000 metres (13,120 feet) in canton Valais, has already claimed six lives this year.
“The mountain is now too unstable and therefore too dangerous to be used as a tourist attraction, where dozens of people climb every day,” the paper quotes one unnamed mountain guide as saying.
The cause of the rock falls is not certain but Hans-Rudolf Keusen, geologist and expert on natural hazards at the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) says rising temperatures are “very probably” a factor. “Permafrost is thawing at ever higher altitudes,” he told the SonntagsZeitung.
Keusen thinks conditions are becoming too dangerous in summer above 2,500 metres. But he opposes closing the Matterhorn, appealing instead to the personal responsibility of mountain climbers.
Canton Valais natural hazards chief Raphaël Mayoraz also thinks it would be “ridiculous” to close off the high mountains because after all, alpinism is a “private activity”. “The communities should be content with informing the mountain climbers about risks as a preventive measure,” he told the newspaper.
Correction: a previous version of this story incorrectly stated that there were two people with the guide that died on July 24.
More
More
Permafrost is warming worldwide, says new study
This content was published on
The temperature of permafrost has risen in the last ten years across the world, says a new international study with Swiss participation.
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
Basel greenlights funding for Eurovision Village 2025
This content was published on
MCH Group Ltd. is set to receive CHF1 million ($1.1 million) for the Eurovision Village at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel.
Geneva researchers discover potential for targeted cancer drug delivery
This content was published on
Researchers in Geneva have discovered how some bacteria inject dangerous enzymes into cells, potentially enabling targeted drug delivery to cancer cells.
Macron denies involvement in Nestlé Waters scandal
This content was published on
French President Emmanuel Macron denied any “agreement” or “collusion” with the Swiss company Nestlé over the bottled water scandal on Tuesday.
UBS has cut 10,000 jobs since Credit Suisse takeover in 2023
This content was published on
UBS Group has cut more than 10,000 roles since it bought Credit Suisse, marking a milestone in the lender’s efforts to integrate its former rival.
Swiss multinational SGS to move HQ from Geneva to Zug
This content was published on
The Swiss multinational SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, plans to move its headquarters from Geneva to canton Zug in central Switzerland.
Swiss army takes part in international tank competition
This content was published on
Around 20 Swiss army personnel and two Leopard 2 tanks are taking part in an international tank competition in Grafenwöhr, Germany, this week.
Omega-3 supplements seem to slow ageing process, Swiss study finds
This content was published on
Taking a daily omega-3 supplement appears to slow down the rate of biological ageing by up to four months, according to a study by researchers at the University of Zurich.
This content was published on
On the way to the summit of Switzerland’s iconic Matterhorn, the site where the rope broke in one of mountaineering’s most famous accidents is quickly followed by an eerie statue of St Bernard, patron saint of alpinists. It’s a reminder that climbing the peak is more than a physical challenge; a climber also has to grapple with history and myth.
Hot Swiss summer increases danger of alpine rockfalls
This content was published on
Earlier this week a huge rockslide was observed in the Val Ferret area, bordering Italy, in the French-speaking canton Valais. Cantons Uri and Graubünden have also seen above average rock displacement, which represents a threat to mountaineers and hikers. The record-breaking heat of the summer in Switzerland has been identified as the culprit, melting the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.