Authorities in the picturesque tourist destination of Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland says the town is facing an existential threat due to possible rockfalls.
Above the town there’s a huge outcrop of rock called the Spitze Stein.
Rocks around the formation are moving. It’s already led to the closure of a popular toboggan run -and local businesses say that’s already affected turnover as visitors are down.
But the risks around the Spitze Stein are much more serious. It’s nearly 3,000 meters high and if it collapses it could bring down 18 million cubic meters of rock – which could hit the town.
If it’s declared a red zone due to the danger – visitors would be limited and building work would be restricted.
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