French rescue officials have confirmed the tragic discovery of the bodies of two Italian and two South Korean climbers near the summit of Mont Blanc on the French side. The climbers had gone missing over the weekend amidst harsh weather conditions.
The Chamonix-Mont Blanc search and rescue team located the two pairs of climbers at an altitude of 4,700 meters, which is over 15,400 feet, on the highest peak of the Alps. Unfortunately, the climbers had succumbed to hypothermia, according to the rescue officials.
The climbers, who were not accompanied by guides, had initially alerted rescuers on Saturday afternoon. However, due to worsening weather conditions, rescue operations were hindered, preventing ground teams and helicopters from reaching their location in time.
Despite the challenges posed by the weather, a highly complex operation led to the successful rescue of two other Korean climbers on Sunday morning. They were found at an altitude of 4,100 meters, which is over 13,400 feet.
In response to this tragic incident, French authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the climbers' deaths. The loss of these individuals serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with mountaineering, especially in unpredictable mountain environments.
