A group of 17 climbers were swept away by the detachment of several blocks from the Grand Combin glacier, according to Corriere della Sera. Two of them are dead, while the injured are 9, with 2 of them hospitalized in serious condition.
The incident occurred on the Swiss side of the mountain, in the Zermatt area of the canton of Valais, whose summit is 4,310 meters above sea level. Swiss police confirmed there were at least three seriously injured.
The alarm was activated at 6.20am on Friday morning. The mountain rescue team was on the scene with about 40 operators and seven helicopters. The area of the collapse is located at an altitude of about 3,400 metres and is called "Plateau du dejuner", along a route known as "Voie du Gardien".
The climb is considered very difficult by experts: at this point, the mountain reaches a gradient of 40 degrees and it is necessary to proceed with crampons.
The judicial authority of Sion has already launched an investigation into the incident.
Shortly after 3 pm (local time), the spokesman of the Valais police, Steve Leger, announced that "the rescue operation was completed", clarifying the account of the tragedy: 17 people rescued, 2 dead, 9 taken to the hospital in Lausanne. Two of them are in serious condition.
Source: in.gr
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