A climber died after being struck by falling rocks in the Mont-Blanc massif, Haute-Savoie, France.
The incident occurred around 15:30 on Thursday, 13 August, at the Aiguille du Génépi, near the Albert 1er refuge.
The Chamonix high-mountain gendarmerie peloton (PGHM) stated that stones suddenly rolled down the slope and struck the climber, who died instantly.
Rescuers from the PGHM of Chamonix intervened around 16:30, using the helicopter Choucas 74 to evacuate the victim to the DZ des Bois.
Altitude of the Aiguille du Génépi, where the rockfall occurred
The Aiguille du Génépi is located in the commune of Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France, near the Franco-Swiss border.
Following several weeks of drought, rockfalls are multiplying in the Mont-Blanc massif, particularly feared during heat periods when terrain is weakened by lack of water and strong heat.
Successive heat waves have accelerated the melting of residual snow, glaciers and permafrost in high mountains, favouring rockfalls.
The Tête Rousse and Goûter refuges, used to prepare for Mont Blanc ascents, have been closed since Tuesday by order of the mayor of Saint-Gervais, France.
On Wednesday, two people died in two separate accidents in the Mont-Blanc massif: a young woman fell during a hike and another person died in a speed riding accident.
The victim’s age is disputed: one source reports 31 years, another 26. One account identifies the victim as a French national, but this is not confirmed by all sources.
The authorities have urged climbers to exercise caution and consider abandoning certain ascents.
