At least a dozen people are still missing after the collapse of Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites, Skytg24 also reported, citing rescuers.
The Alpine Rescue Service reported via Twitter that a significant segment of ice, also known as a serac, had collapsed on the Marmolada glacier during the ascent to the summit.
It also said all alpine rescue stations in the area were activated, including dog teams and at least five helicopters.
An employee at the Castiglioni Marmolada Refuge, a local inn, witnessed the collapse of the seraca, telling Skytg24 that he “heard a loud noise, typical of a landslide, then we saw an avalanche made up of snow and ice, and that’s when I knew it had happened something serious.”
The collapse also came amid record local temperatures, Skytg24 reported, reaching around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) at the top of the mountain.
Many parts of Western Europe, including Italy, have been experiencing a long heatwave over the past month.
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