Shift in Production Under Consideration by Swiss Knife Manufacturer to Evade U.S. Tariffs
In the heart of Bern, Switzerland, the Swiss army knives manufactured by Victorinox are currently on display, providing a stark contrast to the recent natural disasters that have hit the country.
On August 8, 2025, the city of Bern plays host to an exhibition showcasing Swiss army knives from the renowned Victorinox company. The location of the display is within the city itself.
However, the tranquility of the city is overshadowed by the ongoing search and rescue operation in a Swiss village, where one person is reported missing following a glacier collapse. The incident occurred in a remote Alpine village, and the Swiss army is leading the operation to locate the missing individual.
The incident resulted in a significant amount of mud and rock burying the village, causing an evacuation. The exact location of the affected village is yet to be disclosed, but it is believed to be in the Alps of Switzerland.
This glacier collapse is the latest in a series of natural disasters in Switzerland related to rockslides, glacier debris, and mudslides. One of the most significant events took place in May 2025 in the canton of Valais. On May 28, a severe landslide occurred in the Loetschental valley, originating from the Kleines Nesthorn mountain (over 3,300 meters altitude). The event involved millions of tonnes of debris and ice from the Birch Glacier crashing into the valley and nearly burying the evacuated village of Blatten.
The overall losses were estimated at just under US$0.5 billion, with about US$0.4 billion insured. Experts attribute the increasing frequency of such landslides to climate warming, glacier melt, and permafrost thaw destabilizing mountain slopes and rock faces.
Current natural hazard warnings in Switzerland as of late August 2025 highlight a high danger of landslides and mudslides due to expected heavy rainfall (80–130 mm) with rapid rises in river and lake water levels. The warnings emphasize the risk of sudden mudslides on steep slopes and watercourses, recommending avoiding such areas, indicating ongoing and imminent risks of these phenomena.
These recent events underscore the ongoing natural hazard challenges Switzerland faces related to mountainous terrains and climate change. While the Swiss army knives on display in Bern symbolize the country's engineering prowess, the ongoing natural disasters serve as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.
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