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Swiss glaciers lose 5.5% ice volume in 2026

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 6:14 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Swiss Glaciers Melt

Swiss glaciers lost 5.5% of ice volume in 2026, the second-largest melt on record.
The melt removed about 2.5 cubic kilometres of ice, enough to fill Lake Biel twice.
Between July and September glaciers released roughly 2.2 trillion litres of water, over four times Swiss households’ annual consumption.
GLAMOS director Matthias Huss warned Alpine glaciers could vanish within 10–15 years if melt continues.

Summary

Rhine Low Halts Shipping

River Rhine hit record lows, stopping freight shipping and raising transport costs.
Nuclear power plants that use Rhine water for cooling were temporarily shut down.
A glacier collapse in Blatten destroyed 300 homes and forced evacuation.
Displaced Blatten residents now live in temporary accommodation with no return timeline.
Loss of glaciers threatens European farmers with long-term drought, endangering food production.

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Swiss Glaciers Melt

Swiss glaciers lost 5.5% of ice volume in 2026, the second-largest melt on record.
The melt removed about 2.5 cubic kilometres of ice, enough to fill Lake Biel twice.
Between July and September glaciers released roughly 2.2 trillion litres of water, over four times Swiss households’ annual consumption.
GLAMOS director Matthias Huss warned Alpine glaciers could vanish within 10–15 years if melt continues.

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