Swiss glacier collapse destroys parts of village

Numerous homes in Blatten devastated after huge cloud of ice and rubble inundates evacuated town

A massive glacier has collapsed in southern Switzerland, partly destroying the small village of Blatten, which had been evacuated recently because of the impending danger.

At about 3.30pm (1330 GMT), a huge collapse occurred on the Birch glacier, emergency services in the Wallis region said.