Yahoo – AFP,
18 Aug 2014
Grenoble (France) (AFP) - Two climbers and their guide have fallen 800 metres to their death in the Mont Blanc range, police said on Monday, the latest in a series of tragedies on Europe's highest mountain.
A view of
the Mont Blanc range in the French Alps, taken on July 16, 2014
(AFP, Phillippe
Desmazes)
|
Grenoble (France) (AFP) - Two climbers and their guide have fallen 800 metres to their death in the Mont Blanc range, police said on Monday, the latest in a series of tragedies on Europe's highest mountain.
"The
fall of 800 metres (2,600 feet) gave them no chance," police said, adding
they probably fell off a ridge that climbers must take to return to a nearby
refuge hut.
"Investigations
are ongoing to find out the cause of the fall. It's possible that an overhang
of snow gave way under the group, preventing the guide from holding up his
clients," police added.
Helicopter
rescue teams discovered the bodies of the three victims on Sunday night near
the Aiguille du Midi peak, which rises to a height of 3,842 metres (12,605
feet).
Searches
had been ongoing since Saturday evening.
The guide,
in his 50s, had 25 years of experience, said Denis Crabieres, president of the
national mountain guides union.
"It's
difficult to think of someone who knew the area better," he added.
The route
the climbers were taking was not difficult technically but "can become
dangerous under certain conditions."
"The
path can disappear in certain weather conditions," he added.
The deaths
came just days after six climbers fell 250 metres to their death on another
peak, the Aiguille d'Argentiere, and brings to 20 the number of dead or missing
since the beginning of the climbing season.
That
accident was the single worst loss of life on the mountain in more than two
years.
In
addition, two Belgians were found dead on August 2 and six climbers died
between July 15 and 30 -- two Irish, two Finns, a German and a French person.
A US
climber sparked outrage earlier this month when he tried to climb the mountain
with his nine-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter and got caught in an
avalanche.
The family
escaped uninjured, but video footage of the incident in a spot known as the
"Corridor of Death" caused an outcry when it was broadcast in the
United States last month.
That
incident sparked fears that the mountain was becoming a tourist "free for
all."
The major
of the local town of Chamonix noted that both accidents in the past week
happened on relatively easy climbs and with experienced accompanying guides but
stressed: "The mountain always poses serious hazards."
"These
are two blows of fate, two accidents that have floored us. It's terrible,"
said the mayor, Eric Fournier.
He said
that the two accidents should not dent the reputation of mountain climbing,
however, pointing out that "other sports and hobbies have even worse
dangers."
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