Two mountaineers were killed by falling boulders in the Swiss Alps.

Police released a statement saying that two mountaineers from France and Spain were killed and nine others were injured by falling seracs (large blocks ice) in southwestern Switzerland.

Two mountaineers were killed by falling boulders in the Swiss Alps.

Police released a statement saying that two mountaineers from France and Spain were killed and nine others were injured by falling seracs (large blocks ice) in southwestern Switzerland.

Seventeen mountaineers were 3,400m high at the time of the Grand-Combin ascent, when they were captured by the seracs. Two people were killed at the accident scene. Police said that they were both a French national aged 40 and a Spaniard aged 65 who resided in France.

According to authorities, nine mountaineers were injured and two were seriously hurt. They were flown to Lausanne by helicopter. Other mountaineers were also evacuated by helicopter from accident site. Seven helicopters and forty rescuers were involved in the rescue operation.

Police reminded people that the threshold of 0°C is approximately 4,000m and it was important to be extra cautious or to cancel planned outings. Le Grand-Combin is 4,314m high and is the second highest point in French-speaking Switzerland.

NEXT NEWS