The Swiss mountain village of Brienz remains uninhabitable for a second winter due to the risk of rockfalls, authorities announced today, BTA reported.
Heavy rain, as well as sudden rockfalls, could drag a significant mass of rock towards the village, authorities warned. They drew attention to the presence of about 1.2 million cubic meters of rock debris above Brienz.
The village's eighty permanent residents were told to leave their homes in November last year because of a serious threat of landslides.
The evacuation is expected to remain in effect for another "several" months, the latest assessment report says. At this stage, residents can enter the village during the day to work in their gardens, but they are prohibited from staying at home overnight.
The villagers of Brienz could register at another permanent address until the end of last month. It is not clear how many people have taken advantage of the opportunity, as the registrations are still being checked. The results will be announced in the second half of this month, a spokesman for the municipality told DPA.