Dynamite fails to reduce the Grimsel’s “Sword of Damocles” to dust
The biggest controlled explosion ever witnessed in Switzerland has failed in its bid to dislodge 150,000 cubic metres of rock hanging precariously above the Grimsel Pass. Engineers were hoping that 19 tonnes of dynamite would pulverise the Grimsel's "Sword of Damocles".
According to the geologist Ueli Gruner, only 100,000 cubic tonnes of rock came down, but the full results of the operation are not expected to be available until Monday.
The explosion, which attracted 1,500 spectators, cost around SFr3.5 million. Specialists spent three months drilling eight kilometres of holes to carry the explosive charges.
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