Two mountaineers, a French and a Spaniard, were killed and 9 others injured by falling seracs (large blocks of ice) in southwestern Switzerland on Friday, police said in a statement.
Seventeen mountaineers were at 3,400 meters above sea level, in the “Plateau du Déjeuner” sector during the ascent of the Grand-Combin, when they were caught by the seracs.
“Two people died at the scene of the accident. They are a 40-year-old French national residing in France as well as a 65-year-old Spaniard residing in Spain,” police said.
Other helicopter mountaineers
Nine mountaineers, two of whom were “seriously injured” were airlifted to two hospitals in Lausanne, the authorities’ statement said. Other mountaineers were evacuated by helicopter from the scene of the accident.
In total, seven helicopters intervened as well as about forty rescuers. The police recalled that it was necessary to be extra careful or even to give up the planned outings when the threshold of 0 degrees is around 4,000 meters.
The Grand-Combin culminates at 4,314 meters. It is the second highest peak in French-speaking Switzerland.