Italy: glacier collapse kills at least six in the Alps

Part of the Marmolada glacier (Italy) collapsed on Sunday July 3. Thousands of tons of ice and rocks rolled down the slope at over 200 km/h. From a refuge, the man who filmed watched, dazed, at the scene. The Marmolada glacier is the largest in the Italian Dolomites: more than a hundred hectares. A whole part fell off. The rescue helicopters left immediately in search of the hikers present on the site. A provisional report shows six dead, eight wounded and a still uncertain number of missing.

Before the avalanche, the appearance of the glacier was already a concern. For several months, scientists have observed a weakening of the structure. Ice volumes keep decreasing. However, the summer of 2022 is marked by record temperatures, which increases the major risk of collapse. “The snow cover has disappeared very quickly with these very high temperatures. The ice is turning into water, and pieces are falling off,” explains Cristian Ferrari, glaciologist in the Trentino region (Italy). Other movements are to be feared in the coming days.