Zip code: 3905 mentioned in text

In the serene Saas Valley of Switzerland, a tragic event unfolded on August 30, 1965. The Mattmark dam construction site, a project that held great promise, was the setting for a catastrophe that would claim the lives of 88 individuals.

The Mattmark dam construction site tragedy began with a piece of the Allalingletscher, a nearby glacier, breaking off and crashing onto the site. The incident occurred at a time when up to 700 people were on the site, half an hour after the disaster.

The aftermath of the tragedy was marked by a series of investigations. Beat Bieri, a prominent figure in those days, was tasked with uncovering the facts. However, the investigations revealed a grim truth: there had been warnings from scientists about the potential dangers of the Mattmark project, but they were not heeded.

The tragedy resulted in a significant loss of life. Of the 88 victims, 56 were from Italy, 23 from Switzerland, 4 from Spain, 2 each from Germany and Austria, and 1 was stateless. The acquittals of the 17 responsible parties involved in the tragedy caused great outrage, especially in Italy.

Elisabeth Joris, a writer from the Swiss village of Blatten, penned a book about the Mattmark dam construction site tragedy. Her work serves as a poignant reminder of the events that transpired that fateful day in the Saas Valley. The book also recalls another tragedy, one that occurred in the same village, involving a landslide.

The Mattmark dam construction site tragedy remains a sombre chapter in Swiss history. Its lessons serve as a reminder of the importance of heeding warnings and prioritising safety, especially in large-scale construction projects.