15 climbers have been hit by an avalanche climbing the Mont Blanc du Tacul, part of the route to the summet of Mont Blanc early this morning. The incident occured around 02h30 when a serac collapse provoked the slide.
Search and rescue operations early this morning
The prefect for the Haute-Savoie issued the following statement:
This morning at around 3.00 am, a serac (large block of ice surrounded by crevasses in a glacier) collapsed in the Mont-Blanc sector of the Tacul in Haute-Savoie. glacier at an altitude of around 4100 metres above sea level. According to the initial information gathered, the origin of the serac fall is believed to be natural. Several mountaineering roped parties were in the vicinity, which meant that 15 people were involved. The high mountain gendarmerie platoon (PGHM) immediately deployed major search and rescue operation involving civil security, the departmental fire and rescue service (SDIS) and the emergency medical service (SAMU).
The following were mobilised
Of the 15 climbers involved, the provisional toll is as follows: - 1 victim dead ; - 4 injured. All the victims were taken care of by the emergency services and evacuated to the Sallanches and Annecy hospitals. The other 10 people escaped unhurt. Operations are continuing.
Summer accidents on the Tacul of this type are not uncommon. Local reports suggest the route was not that busy this morning.