Русская версияFrench authorities presume that eight alpinists were killed by an
ice avalanche on Mont Blanc du Tacul on Sunday, Aug.
24. Three have
been identified as Swiss, and one as Austrian mountain guide.
Four more missing mountaineers were initially believed to be
Austrians, but they were probably Germans, Peter
Launsky-Tieffenthal, spokesman of the Austrian foreign ministry,
told German dpa news agency.
The office of High Mountain Gendarmes based in Chamonix said
rescuers suspended the search Monday after flying over the zone and
finding no clues about those missing.
"The zone is very exposed to serac (ice block) falls," Jean-Yves
Claudon of the local police rescue service told reporters. "There
is no question of risking the life of rescuers to recover bodies.
We're not in an emergency situation any more."
The avalanche was set off when a block of ice some 200 meters (656
feet) broke off a mountain face onto a commonly used hiking trail.
(Deutsche Welle)
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