12 July 2012
At least six climbers have been killed and nine injured in an avalanche near the French Alpine ski resort of Chamonix, police say.
Two German, two Swiss and two Spanish nationals were killed, according to AFP. The news agency added that five Britons and two Spaniards were missing.
The alarm was sounded at 05:25 local time (03:25 GMT) by one of the injured on the slopes of Mont Maudit.
The route is a popular one for tourists heading for the summit of Mont Blanc.
'Cursed mountain'
Rescue teams are using a helicopter to search for the missing climbers
In all, 28 climbers were roped together in several groups, reports say.
They are believed to have reached 4,000m (13,120 ft) when the avalanche struck.
The injured were airlifted to a local hospital.
Rescue teams are using a helicopter and heat-seeking device to try to locate the missing.
The local authorities described the avalanche as "the most deadly" in recent years, AFP says.
The weather in the region has been warm and windy over the last few days, which could have led to an increased risk of avalanche at high altitudes, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne reports.
Mont Maudit - meaning the cursed mountain - is the third-highest peak in the Mont Blanc massif range, rising to 4,465m.
Last week, five foreign climbers have fallen to their deaths in the Valais canton in the Swiss Alps.
French Alps avalanche: Six killed near Chamonix
At least six climbers have been killed and nine injured in an avalanche near the French Alpine ski resort of Chamonix, police say.Two German, two Swiss and two Spanish nationals were killed, according to AFP. The news agency added that five Britons and two Spaniards were missing.
The alarm was sounded at 05:25 local time (03:25 GMT) by one of the injured on the slopes of Mont Maudit.
The route is a popular one for tourists heading for the summit of Mont Blanc.
'Cursed mountain'
Rescue teams are using a helicopter to search for the missing climbers
In all, 28 climbers were roped together in several groups, reports say.
They are believed to have reached 4,000m (13,120 ft) when the avalanche struck.
The injured were airlifted to a local hospital.
Rescue teams are using a helicopter and heat-seeking device to try to locate the missing.
The local authorities described the avalanche as "the most deadly" in recent years, AFP says.
The weather in the region has been warm and windy over the last few days, which could have led to an increased risk of avalanche at high altitudes, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne reports.Mont Maudit - meaning the cursed mountain - is the third-highest peak in the Mont Blanc massif range, rising to 4,465m.
Last week, five foreign climbers have fallen to their deaths in the Valais canton in the Swiss Alps.
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