Business in Blatten: Journalist about evacuation

A journalist of the Valais messenger lives in Blatten and had to go. Jelena Kalbermatten wrote down her thoughts. From watching, going away and waiting.

Until a few days ago, many leafers could not even have called the little mountain in front of the mighty Bietschhorn: the little nesthorn. But now the population will never forget the name of this actually inconspicuous mountain.

At first there was only a small demolition. Then followed a mural. Many have not even noticed that it started rumoring in Birchin last Wednesday. We live in the mountains – such events are part of our everyday life. The mood was even tense, but was given

The Nesthorn had started to move at this point. The approximately 100 affected residents had 90 minutes to leave their houses. The last words of the mayor were: «Now you can go, pack the most important thing and unsubscribe from the municipal office. Stay calm – and take a devout look up to the mountain. » And many did – I can assure you.

The evacuation went smoothly. As a former mayor once said: « We are a disaster -sample. » All helped each other when the houses were cleared, provided empty holiday apartments, hotel rooms and beds. The night on Sunday was quiet. But Sunday was paradoxical: blue sky, twittering birds, perfect world. If it weren’t for this threatening mountain over us.

Down in the village, life seemed to take its usual run. But many moved up to Weissenried on Sunday. The Nesthorn looks harmless from the village. From up there, however, we saw that boulders repeatedly loosened.

The media conference in the afternoon confirmed that the mountain is increasingly faster. Nevertheless, we went to bed. On Monday, most of them drove to work as usual. Shortly before half past nine, I received the news that the movement of the Nesthorn had accelerated in the last few minutes. I drove up to watch the mountain – and for the first time I was really worried. At first I thought the wind would drive my tears in my eyes. I continued to film. In a quiet moment I noticed: it was not the wind. I cried.

Then came the shock message: the whole village is evacuated, everyone has to get out. We had almost half an hour. My mom packed the most necessary for our family in a suitcase and drove to Ferden. I drove down into the village – I was no longer allowed to go home.

I also had to go away as quickly as possible. If I had understood what was going on at the moment, I would have looked at my village a little longer in the rearview mirror. But there was no time for that – the adrenaline was too high.

In Wiler at the gym, I was the first to hire my mom in my arms. We are all safe, that’s the most important thing. Then the time of waiting began. And that’s the worst.

If you have nothing to do anymore – except to wait.

Waiting means thinking.

To think about what the little Nesthorn will give us. This mountain over us.