Dozens evacuated as chunk of Mont Blanc glacier at risk of breaking away

Local authorities in Italy say the evacuation near the Alps’ highest peak is urgent and imperative

The Planpincieux glacier, located in the Alps on the Grande Jorasses peak of the Mont Blanc massif, is seen from Val Ferret, a popular hiking area on the south side of the Mont Blanc, near Courmayeur, northern Italy. AP

A man looks up to the Planpincieux glacier from the village of La Palud, in Courmayeur, Val Ferret, northwestern Italy. AFP

A hiker looks at a map as he walks in a parking lot beneath the Planpincieux glacier. AP

A woman points to the Planpincieux glacier, located in the Alps on the Grande Jorasses peak of the Mont Blanc massif, a popular hiking area on the south side of the Mont Blanc, near Courmayeur, northern Italy. AP

A picture taken from a helicopter shows the Planpincieux glacier of the Grandes Jorasses, on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif, with the Courmayeur village in the background, Val Ferret, northwestern Italy. AFP

An Italian 'Protezione Civile' (Civil Protection), rescue and search vehicle for aid is waiting at the local police checkpoint in the village of La Palud. AFP

The Planpincieux glacier, located in the Alps on the Grande Jorasses peak of the Mont Blanc massif, is seen from the road leading to the Val Ferret, near Courmayeur, northern Italy. AP

A segment of the Planpincieux glacier is seen on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif, in Aosta, Italy. Reuters

Planpincieux glacier from the village of La Palud, in Courmayeur, Val Ferret, northwestern Italy. AFP

Planpincieux glacier from the village of La Palud, in Courmayeur, Val Ferret, northwestern Italy. AFP

Planpincieux Glacier, which lies under a massif of Mont Blanc. AP Photo

Planpincieux glacier of the Grandes Jorasses, on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif, Courmayeur, Val Ferret, northwestern Italy. AFP

Dozens of people have been evacuated from an Italian ski resort over fears that a chunk of a Mont Blanc glacier could break away after local temperatures soared.

The size of the ice block from the Planpincieux Glacier is around 500,000 cubic metres – the same as Milan’s cathedral, according to Valerio Segor, who directs the local natural risk management service.

"Any fall would be capable of considerable damage and also travel a long way," Mr Segor said.

Roads leading to the popular hiking valley of Val Ferret have been closed and 75 people, mainly tourists, were evacuated after an alert from Stefano Miserocchi, the mayor of nearby Courmayeur.

"The evacuation was urgent and imperative," Mr Miserocchi told reporters. "The situation foresees a high alert in the next 72 hours."

The precarious chunk of ice is located about 2,600 to 2,800 metres above sea level and slowly detaching, Mr Segor said.

"With our monitoring systems and photographic comparisons we have identified a sector of the glacier that is giving way, at a not exaggerated speed," he said.

The thermal shock of high temperatures, which then turned cold before rising again, had made the glacier much more fragile and at greater risk of collapse, he said.

"The water flowing underneath can, in fact, act as a 'slide'. It is the most dangerous situation and one most predisposed to collapse."

Last autumn another section of ice from the Planpincieux Glacier threatened to collapse, prompting road closures in the area.

Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps at more than 4,800 metres.