Tragedy in the Italian Alps. The heat triggered an avalanche that killed en masse – iMeteo.sk

On Sunday, a huge accident took place in the Italian Alps. High temperatures unleashed an avalanche that killed at least six people, with many still missing. A Czech woman also died in the accident. The heat wave hit, among other things, the Italian Alps, where the tragedy occurred. Well above average temperatures caused a piece of glacier to break off on Mount Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites, triggering a massive avalanche. The Alpine Rescue Service said that an important section of ice, also known as a serac, had collapsed on the Marmolada glacier during the ascent to the summit. An avalanche of snow and rocks hit hikers climbing the slopes of the Dolomites, a mountain range in northeastern Italy. This release apparently occurred as a result of above-average temperatures. On Saturday, the temperature record was broken in this very place, when the temperature rose to +10.3 °C. There were several visitors on the mountain who were hit by the avalanche. Rescue and search teams were immediately sent to help. So far, they have confirmed 6 victims and 10 injured, while around 16 people are still missing. “A Czech woman died in yesterday’s glacial descent on Mount Marmolada in the Italian Alps. More Czechs are missing,” informs Počásí.cz. According to Il Messagerro newspaper, 4 of the six victims were identified, three Italians and one Czech. Among the missing are other Czechs, Germans, Romanians and Italians. The number of victims will probably increase. The search by the personnel of the Alpine rescue and fire brigade has been suspended due to the possible further slide of the glacier. The search continues through the night with fire department drones. Italian rescuers assume that the number of victims will increase and approach the number of 20. It is not excluded that there will be more victims. “It is unlikely that anyone will survive. As for the exact number of victims, the number cannot be given. It is estimated based on the testimonies of those who were there, but it cannot be ruled out that there was someone else who was not seen by those present,” said rescuer Walter Cainelli from Trentino Alpine Rescue. The fact that a part of the glacier that had been on top of the mountain for hundreds of years was released is an extraordinary event. Anselmo Cagnati, one of Venice’s most experienced glaciologists and snow experts, said after the tragedy that it was a clear consequence of climate change and predicted that such collapses would become more frequent in the coming years.