Rescue helicopters are circling around Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites, in northern Italy, looking for survivors.
This is because a nearby glacier mass collapsed and hit climbers who were enjoying trekking on the mountainside.
Nearly 30 people were injured and missing in the accident.
With so many missing persons, the death toll is always high.
At an elevation of 3,343 meters above sea level, Mt Marmolada can see ice caps even in midsummer, attracting many tourists and mountaineers.
[루이지 펠리케티 / 구조 담당자 : (사고를 당한 사람들은 여행객이었나요?) 아닙니다. 밧줄과 장비, 아이젠과 같은 것들을 갖춘 전문 산악인들이었습니다.]
The rescue team mobilizes all rescue personnel to conduct a search operation, while checking the license plates of parked vehicles to identify missing persons.
The Italian prime minister visited the accident site and blamed climate change as the cause of the disaster.
[마리오 드라기 / 이탈리아 총리 : 전례가 없는 이번 사태는 의심할 여지 없이 환경과 기후 상황의 악화와 관련 있습니다.]
The glacier collapsed due to the melting of the ice near the summit due to the heatwave exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, which has been hitting Italy since the end of last month.
Foreign media reported that the accident occurred one day after the temperature at the top of Marmolada reached an all-time high of 10 degrees Celsius.
An early heat wave hits the Alps, raising concerns about the collapse of additional glaciers.
This is YTN Lee Jong-soo.
Video editing: Kim Hye-jeong
Graphics: Park Ji-won
Subtitle News: Lee Seon
[저작권자(c) YTN 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
