A fragment of a glacier in the Grandes Jorasses, in the Italian part of the Mont Blanc massif, threatens to collapse due to the heat, requiring the evacuation of dozens of residents and tourists in the area, announced Thursday the local authorities.
A volume of ice estimated at 500,000 cubic meters would be on the verge of detaching from the Planpincieux glacier, on the territory of the municipality of Courmayeur, indicates an ordinance from this municipality in the Valle d’Aosta region located near the border. with France.
Several roads below, which lead to the Val Ferret valley, have been closed, according to this ordinance.
The authorities have ordered the evacuation of around thirty houses in a “red zone” in the lower part of Val Ferret, involving nearly 70 people (15 residents and more than 50 tourists).
Evacuation and security operations have been underway since this morning by the police and civil protection, while local authorities are worried about the temperature for the next three days in this period of strong summer heat.
In September and October 2019, this Planpincieux glacier had already threatened to partially collapse, over a portion of nearly 250,000 cubic meters.