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Pascal Tischhauser
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The peaceful appearance is deceptive. This is how it looks in Mitholz today, but under the idyll there are several hundred tons of explosives.
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Keystone
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2.19
Among other things, a 50-kilo aerial bomb.
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Keystone
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3.19
Federal Councilor Viola Amherd is now taking action. She wants the powder keg to be cleared completely.
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Keystone
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19/19
Rescuers from the rock wall marked on the negative, destroyed by the explosions in the ammunition gallery.
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Defense Minister Viola Amherd (57) did not have an easy trip: On Tuesday evening, the Federal Councilor had to tell the 170 villagers of Mitholz in Kandertal that they would have to leave their homeland for ten years. The reason is the former ammunition depot, which was spilled in an explosion in 1947.
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However, the evacuation can only start in 2031 at the earliest. The preparatory work alone will take ten years, according to the Defense Department (DDPS). Many questions still need to be clarified and comprehensive protective measures are required – for example a tunnel for the important north-south railway line of the BLS, but also for the road from Kandergrund to Kandersteg BE. The road may need to be relocated.
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Risk of explosion in the Kandertal
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The federal government has underestimated the danger for 70 years. Only in the summer of 2018 did experts come to the end: the former Mitholz ammunition depot in Kandergrund BE, which exploded at the end of 1947, is still a great danger to the people in the valley.
Explosion is possible at any time
Because at the collapsed ammunition depot and in the rubble cone in front of it, there are still hundreds of tons of explosives – including 50-kilo bombs. You could explode tomorrow. A rock fall, a collapse of other system components or even a sudden self-ignition of the ammunition residues could cause an explosion at any time.
The only way to find out was because the Defense Department (DDPS) wanted to check whether the Mitholz location was suitable for an underground data center. External experts then used historical documents and inspections to find out that Mitholz is a powder keg.
Nine dead
To date, it is unclear exactly how the detonations occurred in the night from December 19 to 20, 1947. The disaster resulted in several explosions, two of which are among the largest artificial, non-nuclear explosions. Local residents reported an approximately 150-meter-high flame that accompanied the detonation. Nine people, including three children, lost their lives in the disaster. The entire rock wall, in which the ammunition depot was located, collapsed, 250,000 cubic meters of rock came loose. (Pt)
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Amherd wants to clear out completely
Amherd’s goal is to completely eradicate the explosive inheritance. But whether this is technically possible is unclear. If not, Plan B looks like this: Cover the entire system with rock.
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The villagers would then be spared the long-term evacuation. But that ammunition remains on site forever would be “a toxic gift for our descendants,” as project manager Hanspeter Aellig says.
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And not just for this. Because, according to the Federal Office for the Environment, the risk for residents of Mitholz living in 50 to 60 households is not acceptable. “We stand by our responsibility and want to support the residents in this difficult situation as well as possible,” emphasized Bruno Locher, Head of Space and Environment in the Defense Department.
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It’s also about money
By the end of March, Mitholzer should say what they think of the plans of the DDPS. After all, everyone is asked big questions: «Do I want to go now or wait until the evacuation? And do I want to go back when everything is over? »
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It’s not just about money. Because of the dangers posed by the ammunition residues, the houses in Mitholz are worth less. The lower market value of houses is likely to call on banks if the mortgage debt is suddenly higher than the value of real estate. The banks could ask Mitholz property owners to refill money – not everyone has it. The federal government has already announced “in justified cases” to cover any losses.
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Eviction is complex and time-consuming
The Federal Council will decide how to proceed in the second half of the year. “The desired clearance is complex, it takes a long time and requires a lot of precautions,” said Brigitte Rindlisbacher, head of the working group.
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There are indeed many unanswered questions: where exactly is how much ammunition located? And in what condition? For example, the rock formation “Dreispitz” could become a problem. Several tons of ammunition are stored under this, which must be recovered. But because the “Dreispitz” is unstable, it has to be removed. This can take up to eight years.
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According to the DDPS, it is not yet possible to predict how much the evacuation will cost. It is likely to be more than a billion francs.
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