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France: Six French mountaineers die in Alps fall | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Six French mountaineers have died in the Alps, officials say. | |
A British hiker found the bodies near the Neige-Cordier summit in the French Alps, which has an altitude of 2,700m (8,850 feet). They were roped together in groups of three. | |
Prosecutor Remy Avon said the reason for their fall was unclear | |
Earlier a local mayor told AFP news agency that it could have been caused by "a slide of snow and stones mixed together". | |
The climbers appear to have died while making an ascent in good weather on Saturday, police said. | The climbers appear to have died while making an ascent in good weather on Saturday, police said. |
The bodies have been flown to the village of Villar-d'Arene for identification. | The bodies have been flown to the village of Villar-d'Arene for identification. |
A local official said that the dead included a 16-year-old boy, two men and three women aged between 42 and 64, according to AFP. | |
The hiker discovered the climbers' bodies as he followed the same route as they had taken a day before, mountain rescue police said. | The hiker discovered the climbers' bodies as he followed the same route as they had taken a day before, mountain rescue police said. |
The mayor, Xavier Cret, said that the climbers appeared to have died after falling some 200m (650ft). | The mayor, Xavier Cret, said that the climbers appeared to have died after falling some 200m (650ft). |
It is thought they stayed overnight in a mountain hut before attempting an ascent to a point at about 3,600m (11,800 feet) in the Massif des Ecrins. | |
They were in a narrow chasm used by both skiers and climbers and, according to a local official, carried with them the ice-picks and other equipment needed for a difficult climb. | They were in a narrow chasm used by both skiers and climbers and, according to a local official, carried with them the ice-picks and other equipment needed for a difficult climb. |