Mountaineer dies on Mont Blanc after breaking off a block of ice
Published: Monday, Aug 5th 2024, 11:30
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A falling block of ice killed a mountaineer on a summit in the Mont Blanc massif on Monday night. Four other mountaineers were injured, according to the prefecture of Haute-Savoie (F).
The large block of ice detached itself from a glacier in the area of Mont Blanc du Tacul in Haute-Savoie at an altitude of around 4100 meters at around 03:00 in the morning, as the prefecture reported on Monday.
Several mountaineering teams, 15 people in total, were in the vicinity of the collapse site. According to the preliminary assessment, one person died and four were injured. One of the injured persons was in a critical condition. "The other seven people survived the accident unharmed," said the prefecture.
Swiss mountaineers also involved
The climbers involved are French, Swiss and Spanish nationals, reported the local French public broadcaster France Bleu. All the victims were treated by the rescue services and then transported to the hospitals in Sallanches and Annecy.
According to initial findings, the cause of the glacier block breaking off is natural.
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