The measuring instruments provided by Monitron, a CSD Group company, enabled us to monitor rock movements accurately.
Late on the evening of 15 June 2023, huge masses of rock detached themselves from the Piz Linard above Brienz in the canton of Graubünden; the several-metre-thick debris flow narrowly avoided reaching the village that had been evacuated since mid-May. Current measurements indicate that two-thirds of the "Insel", a section of the mountain containing 1.9 million cubic metres of rock, collapsed. "The Insel no longer poses any danger", said Stefan Schneider, head of the early warning service, geologist and director of CSD's Graubünden branch, at the press conference in Tiefencastel the following day.
According to the experts, the best possible scenario has therefore occurred: neither people nor buildings have suffered any damage. It is now very likely that Brienz will be habitable again. Future measurements and data evaluation will have to show what the dangers are for the rest of the Insel and the plateau above it. Stefan Schneider is therefore asking for a little more patience - and more detailed observation of the Piz Linhard, as the experts at CSD ENGINEERS, Monitron SA and Polymetra have been doing for many years using state-of-the-art measurement techniques.
Thanks to their geological knowledge and the use and careful interpretation of various measurement techniques, the village of Brienz was evacuated in good time and the landslide was anticipated within a few days.
Find out more about CSD's natural hazard prevention services.