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6 French Mountaineers Dead in Fall From Mont Blanc Peak 6 Climbers Killed in Fall From French Peak
(about 5 hours later)
PARIS — Six French climbers were reported dead on Wednesday after falling hundreds of feet as they began to descend one of the highest peaks of the Mont Blanc mountain range in France, the authorities said. PARIS — Six French climbers were reported dead on Wednesday after falling hundreds of feet as they began to descend one of the highest peaks of the Mont Blanc range in France, the authorities said.
The accident is one of the most serious in Europe’s highest mountain range since nine climbers were killed in an accident in 2012 The accident was one of the most serious in Europe’s highest mountain range since nine climbers were killed in 2012.
Police officials say they believe that the five climbers, whose ages ranged from 27 to 45, and their 42-year-old guide plunged to their deaths after reaching the 12,800-foot “l’Aiguille d’Argentière,” a craggy summit near the Swiss border. Police officials say they believe that the five climbers, whose ages ranged from 27 to 45, and their 42-year-old guide plunged to their deaths after reaching the 12,800-foot “Aiguille d’Argentière,” a craggy summit near the Swiss border.
The group fell about 800 feet as they began to descend a nearby glacier.The group fell about 800 feet as they began to descend a nearby glacier.
“We are sure that the fall was violent,” said Frédéric Labrunye, the local police chief, at a news conference.“We are sure that the fall was violent,” said Frédéric Labrunye, the local police chief, at a news conference.
The weather conditions deteriorated on Tuesday, he said, but the cause of the accident remains unclear. Mr. Labrunye said that a police investigation was underway. The weather deteriorated on Tuesday, he said, but the cause of the accident remains unclear. Mr. Labrunye said that a police investigation was underway.
Rescue efforts started after the group failed to return to their refuge. Police spotted five bodies early on Wednesday; the sixth was found in a crevasse later in the day.Rescue efforts started after the group failed to return to their refuge. Police spotted five bodies early on Wednesday; the sixth was found in a crevasse later in the day.
The group was training with the U.C.P.A. or “Union of Outdoor Sports Centres,” a well-known French organization that provides sporting vacations for about 230,000 people annually. The group was training with the U.C.P.A., or Union of Outdoor Sports Centers, a well-known French organization that provides sporting vacations for about 230,000 people annually.
The vice-president of a local union for mountain guides told the local radio station France Bleue Pays de Savoie that the accident occurred during an itinerary which “is very classic, not at all difficult, and commonly used.” The vice president of a local union for mountain guides told the local radio station France Bleue Pays de Savoie that the accident occurred during an itinerary which “is very classic, not at all difficult, and commonly used.”
The accident contributes to a grim death toll this year in an Alps range that is particularly treacherous, possibly because it is so accessible and attracts many novice climbers. Between July 15 and 30 alone, six European mountain climbers fell to their deaths in the Mont-Blanc, according to Agence France Presse. The accident contributes to a grim death toll this year in an Alps range that is particularly treacherous, possibly because it is so accessible and attracts many novice climbers. From July 15 to 30 alone, six European mountain climbers fell to their deaths in the Mont Blanc area, according to Agence France-Presse.
One cause of the Mont-Blanc mountain range’s high death tally is avalanches. In the accident in July 2012, the nine climbers, all Europeans, were swept to their deaths by an avalanche that left at least 11 others injured. One cause of the Mont Blanc mountain range’s high number of deaths is avalanches. In the July 2012 accident, the nine climbers, all Europeans, were swept to their deaths by an avalanche that left at least 11 others injured.