Glaciers are killing mountaineers on Mont Blanc
Several mountaineers are out at night on Mont Blanc when a loud noise is heard. Ice blocks from a glacier break off and hit parts of the group. At least one person dies.
A person has died on Mont Blanc from falling ice. Four people were injured in the accident on the highest peak in the Alps, as reported by the relevant prefecture. One of them is in critical condition, according to French politician Xavier Roseren on Twitter. Around 3 a.m., ice blocks broke off from a glacier in the Mont Blanc du Tacul area, 4,100 meters above sea level, according to authorities.
These ice towers are called séracs. A group of 15 mountaineers was nearby when the mass of ice, snow, and debris fell. The victim was a French citizen, with the group also including mountaineers from Spain and Switzerland. A crisis team has been set up.
"We had just passed by. It was dark, we only heard the sound. A bang and then the descent of snow towards the valley," said Paolo Comune, director of the alpine rescue service in the Italian Aosta Valley, to the newspaper "La Repubblica". He was in the area for training purposes when the ice broke off.
Initial information suggests that the sérac collapse had a natural cause. There was a snowstorm on the mountain at night. Mont Blanc lies on the border between France and Italy and is extremely exposed to weather conditions due to its height of over 4,800 meters, with severe accidents occurring regularly.
The tragic incident occurred on Mont Blanc, a peak in France, where a French citizen lost their life. The collapse of the séracs, a type of ice tower, was likely caused by the heavy snowstorm that hit the mountain.
