An avalanche on Monte Rosa massif has left one climber dead and four others injured, according to the Aosta Valley Alpine Rescue Service. The incident occurred on Monday, striking a group of eight climbers.
Due to adverse weather conditions, rescuers were unable to reach the scene on Castore Mountain by helicopter and had to approach the affected climbers on foot. The injured individuals were subsequently transported to a hospital in Aosta for treatment.
This fatal avalanche follows the disappearance of four mountaineers, including two Italians and two South Koreans, on the Italian side of Mont Blanc over the weekend. Efforts to locate the missing climbers have been hampered by challenging weather conditions, preventing rescue teams from conducting a thorough search thus far.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as they navigate difficult conditions to ensure the safety of those involved.
The Monte Rosa massif
The Monte Rosa massif, situated in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy, is the second-highest mountain range in Europe after Mont Blanc. The massif is part of the broader Alpine orogeny, a region formed by the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates millions of years ago. The range consists predominantly of gneiss, granite, and schist, materials that were subjected to immense pressure and heat during the mountain-building processes.
The massif is known for its sharp peaks and extensive glaciers, which are prone to avalanches, especially during periods of unstable weather. The Castore Mountain, where the avalanche occurred, is one of the many prominent peaks in the massif, rising to 4,228 metres (13,871 feet) above sea level. The dynamic geological processes in the region, combined with the steep slopes and rapidly changing weather conditions, make the Monte Rosa massif a challenging and potentially dangerous environment for climbers and mountaineers.
