One death and four injured in avalanche at Mont Blanc
Authorities are searching for more victims
Several groups were attempting to reach the summit when the avalanche hit. Photo for illustrative purposes only
Dew scienartist / Shutterstock
An avalanche on one of the paths used to climb Mont Blanc has killed at least one person and left four others injured.
Search and rescue operations for other victims are underway.
At around 03:00 this morning (August 5), a series of seracs – large blocks of ice surrounded by crevasses within a glacier – fell near the summit of the mountain.
This caused an avalanche on the face of the Mont du Tacul, one of the main paths climbers use to ascend the mountain.
This avalanche hit a number of groups climbing the mountain when they were more than 4,000 metres above sea level, affecting around 15 people.
At least two people were attached to each other by rope.
The death of a Frenchman in his sixties has been confirmed, and amongst the injured are Swiss, French, and Spanish nationals. One person is in critical condition.
More information about the incident can be found on the social media post from the Haute-Savoie prefecture below.
It is thought the fall of the seracs occurred due to natural causes – potentially due to climate change.
Search and rescue operations continue
A search and rescue mission was continuing as of 11:00, with gendarmes and firefighters, as well as specialist mountain dog rescue teams and a rescue helicopter, joining the operation. Police believe there may be more victims.
All those affected by the avalanche have been transported to local hospitals, and a crisis centre has been set up in Chamonix.
Screenshots of a webcam set up along the mountain captured some of the footage. You can see it on local media La Dauphiné Libéré here.
Read more: American and Briton die in separate sports accidents in French Alps
