ROME, July 3 (Reuters) – Parts of a mountain glacier collapsed in the Italian Alps on Sunday in record temperatures, local authorities said, killing at least six people and injuring eight.
The Trento provincial government said rescue operations were underway after a large “ice avalanche” involving tourists, adding that there were likely to be “heavy casualties”.
The avalanche fell on the Marmolada, which at more than 3,300 meters is the highest mountain in the Dolomites, a chain in the eastern Italian Alps that crosses the Trento and Veneto regions.
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The injured were taken to hospitals in the nearby cities of Belluno, Treviso, Trento and Bolzano, Veneto President Luca Zaia said.
A handout photo from the Alpine Rescue Services shows where an ice glacier has collapsed on Mount Marmolada, Italy, July 3, 2022. Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico/Handout via REUTERS
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The huge mass of ice collapsed near Punta Roca, on the route commonly used by hikers and climbers to reach the summit, the Alpine Rescue Service said.
“Fortunately the weather conditions are good, but the danger is that there could be more collapses,” a spokesman said.
Helicopters and dogs were used to find survivors.
An early summer heat wave in Italy sent Marmolada temperatures up to 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) on Saturday, Zaya said.
Rising average temperatures have caused the Marmolada Glacier, like many others around the world, to steadily shrink in recent decades.
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Reporting by Gavin Jones; Editing by Catherine Evans
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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