Rome — Sunday afternoon, most of the glaciers in the Alps collapsed, slipping down the Italian hillside, ice, snow and rocks crashing into hikers on popular trails, according to authorities At least 5 people and 8 injured.
According to Italy's RAI state television, there were six deaths, but the number of deaths could not be confirmed immediately. I didn't immediately know how many hikers were missing.
National Alpine and Cave Rescue Corps tweeted that at least five helicopters and rescue dogs were involved in the search for the area involved at the summit of Marmolada.
"There are five dead among those who have been hit by the separation of Serak," the paramedics tweet said, citing the glacier apex jargon. "Eight people were injured, two of whom were seriously injured."
A SUEM dispatch service based in the nearby Veneto area had 18 people above the ice-hit area. He said he would be evacuated by the Alpine rescue team.
According to the dispatch service, the avalanche consisted of "snow, ice, and rocks."
Marmolada, which rises about 3,300 meters (about 11,000 feet), is the highest peak in the eastern Dolomites.
"The rocks broke and a crevasse opened in the glacier, involving about 15 people," the emergency dispatcher tweeted.
The Alpine Rescue Service tweeted that the segment was interrupted "usually along the itinerary used to reach its peak" near Puntarokka (Rockpoint).
It was not immediately clear what caused the ice to collapse and rush down the slopes of the mountaintop. But it could be due to the intense heat waves that have hit Italy since late June, Alpine rescue service spokesman Walter Milano told RAI TV.
"The heat is unusual," Milan said, saying that recent peak temperatures have exceeded 10 ° C (50 ° F). "It's extremely hot," said Milan at the peak. "Obviously that's something unusual."
According to the rescue team, the injured were taken to several hospitals in the Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto areas.
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