Seen From Space: Landslide in the Swiss Alps

Eight people are missing after a massive landslide in Bondo, near the Italian border in the south of Switzerland.

On Wednesday August 23rd a huge chunk broke off the side of a mountain in Bondo, in the southern Swiss Alps, at speeds of more than 250km/h. It is suspected that the resulting landslide swept away eight hikers.

A second landslide followed on Friday August 25th, causing rescuers to abandon the search for the missing people, and a third landslide on August 31st poured more rubble into the beleaguered village.

6 June 2015 | Bondo before the landslide | WorldView-3

27 August 2017 | Bondo after two landslides | WorldView-3

5 September 2017 | Bondo after three landslides | WorldView-4

European Space Imaging photographed the scene from space on August 27th and September 5th, using the very high resolution satellites WorldView-3 and WorldView-4.

It can clearly been seen that mud and rubble from the two landslides have destroyed houses and roads.

Related Stories

Very High Resolution satellite image of the landslide in Niscemi, Italy

VHR Satellite Images Show Damage After Niscemi Landslide 

In January 2026, Italy declared state of emergency after being hit by Cyclone Harry – a storm that brought 10-metre waves and torrential rains of over 300 mm in 48 hours. The most severely affected regions were Sicily, Calabria and Sardinia, with the damage in Sicily alone estimated to be more than 1.5 billion euros. EUSI collected Very High Resolution satellite imagery of the affected areas, including Niscemi – a Sicilian town hit by a massive landslide.

Read More »
Very high resolution satellite image showing military aircraft

The Potential of WorldView Legion for the Safety and Security in Europe

In the ever-evolving landscape of global security, satellite imagery has become an indispensable tool for governments, organisations, and businesses worldwide. Many of them are now learning about the new opportunities that the six recently launched Vantor WorldView Legion satellites bring: higher border security, improved maritime surveillance, faster reaction to developing events, and much more.

Read More »
Satellite image of a city at very high resolution

Beginner’s Guide to Satellite Imagery: 10 Terms You Need to Know

Satellite imagery is an amazing but highly technical field with terms that might be hard to understand, especially for somebody with expertise in a completely different area. That’s why we are explaining the basics of satellite imagery in this article. What’s geolocational accuracy? What is the ideal off nadir angle? How can you see through clouds? Let’s dive right in.

Read More »