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Seven die in deadly Alpine mountain accidents over 24 hours
Three alpinists die in Italys Grand Paradis as rescue teams recover bodies
Seven people died in separate mountain accidents across the Alps in a 24-hour span on Saturday, authorities reported, marking one of the deadliest days in the range in recent years. The fatalities occurred on Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, straddling the French-Italian border, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency . French media confirmed three deaths in the Mont Blanc massif alone, including a skier and two climbers who perished in separate incidents .
The tragedies unfolded as rescue teams recovered the bodies of four additional climbers who died in the same period, according to Dutch and Belgian outlets . Belgian newspaper *La Libre* described the cluster of fatalities as a “dramatic” weekend in the Alps, with all seven deaths occurring between Friday and Saturday .
French authorities in Haute-Savoie confirmed the deaths of three individuals in the Mont Blanc area, including a skier who lost control on a slope and two climbers who fell during an ascent. Rescue teams retrieved the bodies from high-altitude zones near Chamonix, where weather conditions deteriorated rapidly on Saturday afternoon . Italian rescuers reported four fatalities on the Italian side of the range, including two climbers on the Matterhorn and two others on Gran Paradiso, where three deaths were recorded on Friday .
The spate of accidents has prompted calls for stricter safety measures in the Alps, where overcrowding and unpredictable weather have contributed to a rise in fatalities in recent years. Mountain rescue teams in both France and Italy noted that Saturday’s conditions—high winds and sudden temperature drops—complicated rescue operations. “The combination of late-season snow and strong gusts created a hazardous environment,” said a spokesperson for the Chamonix Mountain Rescue Service .
The accidents occurred amid heightened security for the G7 summit in Haute-Savoie, where a gendarme was killed and two others injured in a separate road incident on Saturday. Authorities said the officer, aged 38, was struck by a vehicle while securing the summit route .
Climate scientists warn that warming temperatures in the Alps are destabilising glaciers and increasing the risk of rockfalls, further endangering climbers. “We’re seeing more frequent collapses in areas that were once considered stable,” said Dr. Elena Rossi, a glaciologist at the University of Turin. Rescue organisations have urged climbers to avoid high-altitude routes until conditions stabilise.