Dust still hangs in the air following the rockfall on Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze. Visibility is notably reduced, as seen when traveling up by cable car, according to a spokesperson for the Schneefernerhaus research station located just below the summit. It remains unclear if this is a lingering effect of the rock and debris collapses from the previous days or if more is still coming down. The affected area is difficult to observe.
The exact time and altitude of the main rockfall on Tuesday are now known. The seismograph registered activity at 6:57 AM, the spokesperson stated. The detachment point was approximately 2800 meters high. The rockslide on the 2962-meter mountain occurred in inaccessible terrain on Tuesday and continued throughout the day.
The event created a significant and visible dust cloud but caused no damage to buildings or infrastructure. No one was injured, as no official trails run through the area. Minor collapses, audible even in the valley, followed on Wednesday.
A new question has emerged: initially, reports suggested the event happened on the Tyrolean side of the border that runs across Zugspitze, with only "a few stones tumbling over into Germany." However, researchers now suggest the rockfall might have originated on the Bavarian side. "The permafrost area is mostly on the Austrian side," explained the Schneefernerhaus spokesperson. But the location is very close to the border, making a definitive statement impossible at this time.
Further clarification is expected on Friday. Experts plan to use a drone to determine the precise location and scale of the event. The volume of rock and debris that fell remains unknown. Drone flights on Thursday were hampered by weather. Researchers also intend to use an infrared camera to assess if and how much ice was or is present at the rockfall site.
Experts suspect that thawing permafrost, a consequence of climate change, is the cause of the rockfall. Permafrost refers to ground that is permanently frozen. Without this "glue," mountains can disintegrate—a phenomenon observed more broadly in the Alps at higher altitudes. Permafrost also exists on Zugspitze at the height where the rockfall occurred.
