- Title: Courmayeur's mayor says Mont Blanc glacier risks collapse due to global warming
- Date: 25th September 2019
- Summary: COURMAYEUR, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 25, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VIEW OF SECTION OF THE PLANPINCIEUX GLACIER AT RISK OF COLLAPSE VIEW OF GLACIER / HOUSE UNDERNEATH THE GLACIER HOUSE HOUSE AND CHURCH CAFE SIGNS GLACIER SEEN THROUGH TREES VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS BY ROAD BLOCK COPY OF MAYOR'S ORDER TO CLOSE ROAD STUCK ON SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (French) MAYOR OF COURMAYEUR, STEFANO MISEROCCHI, SAYING: "This (risk of collapse of the glacier) is definitely due to global warming. The average temperatures in the mountains are always higher and there is less rain in the winter. Therefore all the glaciers are in crisis." ROAD BLOCK SIGN READING READING (Italian) "NO ENTRY" (SOUNDBITE) (French) REGIONAL COUNCILLOR, STEFANO BORRELLO, SAYING: "The glacier is melting but the speed of the detachment has increased. We believe there will be a detachment at the front of the glacier of about 250,000 cubic metres (8828666,68 square feet) that could reach the bottom of the valley in more or less eighty seconds. Anyway, to avoid problems we, and in particular the Mayor of Courmayeur, have decided to close the road and to continue the evaluation of the front of the glacier." MEDIA AND PEOPLE AT ROAD BLOCK MISEROCCHI AND OFFICIALS AT ROAD BLOCK VIEW OF GLACIER ROAD BLOCK VIEW OF GLACIER
- Embargoed: 9th October 2019 15:48
- Keywords: Italy Planpincieux glacier Mont Blanc climate change environment Courmayeur global warming
- Location: COURMAYEUR, ITALY
- City: COURMAYEUR, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Environment,Temperature,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001AY5Q05J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:An Italian mayor on Wednesday (September 25) blamed the rise in temperature for the risk of collapse of part of a glacier on Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain.
Experts believe a section of the Planpincieux glacier on Mont Blanc massif estimated to contain up to 250,000 cubic metres (8828666,68 square feet) of ice could fall down the mountain.
The mayor of the nearby town of Courmayeur, Stefano Miserocchi, ordered the closing of two roads and the evacuation of huts on the mountain, which is 4,800 metres (5,250 yards) high, after scientists said the Planpincieux glacier was sliding at an increased speed, threatening part of the Ferret Valley.
"This (risk of collapse of the glacier) is definitely due to global warming", Miserocchi said. "The average temperatures in the mountains are always higher and there is less rain in the winter. Therefore all the glaciers are in crisis."
Experts have been monitoring the glacier closely since 2013 to detect the speed at which the ice is melting but they are unable to predict when the ice would break away.
Between the end of August and the beginning of September the lower part of the glacier was sliding at a speed of 50-60 cm (20-24 inches) per day.
"The glacier is melting but the speed of the detachment has increased", Regional Councillor Stefano Borrello told Reuters.
"We believe there will be a detachment at the front of the glacier of about 250,000 cubic metres (8828666,68 square feet) that could reach the bottom of the valley in more or less eighty seconds".
Across the Alps there is concern that warmer temperatures are increasing the danger of melting permafrost and disappearing glaciers.
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