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Seven climbers dead in French Alps avalanche in Pelvoux | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Seven climbers have been killed and another seriously injured after an avalanche in the Pelvoux district of the French Alps, officials say. | |
The avalanche happened at around midday local time (10:00 GMT) on the 4,000m-high (13,000ft) Dome de Neige des Ecrins mountain, according to reports. | |
Foreigners are among the dead but nationalities are yet to be revealed. | |
The Dome de Neige is said to be popular among climbers because of its relatively easy routes to the summit. | |
The avalanche hit three groups of climbers, Pierre Besnard, prefect of the Hautes-Alpes region, told local media. | |
He said they were still checking to determine there were no more victims. | |
A "wind slab" avalanche - where a wall of snow re-deposited by wind breaks off - was likely to be the cause, said Christian Flagella, a local gendarmerie commander, according to ledauphine.com. |