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Climbers struck by Alps avalanche Hopes fade for avalanche victims
(about 3 hours later)
Ten mountaineers are missing after an avalanche swept down part of the Mont Blanc range in the French Alps. Rescue teams and France's interior minister say there is little hope of saving several climbers swept away by an avalanche in the Mont Blanc range.
They were among a party of climbers who were hit by a wall of snow 200m (600ft) long and about 45m wide while roped together on Mont-Blanc du Tacul. At least eight people are thought to be trapped under the snow. They were among a party of climbers hit by a wall of snow 200m (600ft) long and 50m wide
At least eight people are reported to have been rescued and taken to a hospital in Chamonix. Eight survived the snowslide and were taken to a hospital in Chamonix.
The search for survivors, involving helicopters and rescuers with dogs, has been hindered by new avalanche threats.The search for survivors, involving helicopters and rescuers with dogs, has been hindered by new avalanche threats.
Officials told AFP news agency the missing included five Austrian and two Swiss climbers. The nationality of the others is not yet known. Officials said the eight missing on the Mont-Blanc du Tacul mountain included five Austrians and two Swiss climbers.
Those brought to safety are reported to include five French climbers and three Italians, aged between 26 and 37 years. Originally there were reported to be 10 people missing, but police later revised that figure to eight, the AFP news agency reported.
Some were dug out from the snow by rescuers, while others managed to free themselves. However France's Interior Minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, said it was impossible to know for certain how many were missing.
The avalanche is believed to have happened at about 0300 (0100 GMT) after a large block of glacier ice broke off higher up the mountain. The group of climbers had been bivouaced on the slope below. The minister, who flew into the area on Sunday evening, said that by then there was "no longer any chance of finding someone alive".
That echoed the opinion of a search official interviewed on LCI television, who said there was "no hope" of recovering anyone alive.
After a day in which 40 searchers, with specially trained dogs, and three helicopters failed to find any trace of the missing adventurers, the search was called off. Officials said conditions and the threat of fresh avalanches made it too dangerous to continue.
'Wall of ice'
The eight people brought to safety were reported to include five French climbers and three Italians, aged between 26 and 37 years.
One, Italian Marco Delfini, told LCI he saw "a wall of ice coming towards us and then we were carried 200 metres".
"I was not completely submerged... I managed to help the others," he said.
The avalanche is believed to have happened at about 0300 (0100 GMT), after a large block of glacier ice broke off higher up the mountain. Often climbers set out very early in the morning when attempting a major trek.
"It's probable, according to statements made to us, that the climbers roped together were on the path up the mountain, and in the place where the block of ice tumbled down," Eric Fournier, the mayor of nearby Chamonix, told AFP."It's probable, according to statements made to us, that the climbers roped together were on the path up the mountain, and in the place where the block of ice tumbled down," Eric Fournier, the mayor of nearby Chamonix, told AFP.
The search had to be suspended for a while because of fears of a new avalanche. The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says it has been a lethal summer in the Alps with about 100 climbers killed since 1 June in France, Italy and Switzerland - about 20 of them have died on Mont Blanc.
France's Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie is expected to travel to Chamonix, near the Italian border, to visit the injured and the rescue teams.
Our correspondent says it has been a lethal summer in the Alps with about 100 climbers killed since 1 June in France, Italy and Switzerland - about 20 of them have died on Mont Blanc.