A spectacular serac fall on Mont Blanc du Tacul triggers an avalanche: two people buried
A spectacular serac fall on Mont Blanc du Tacul triggered a major avalanche on the morning of Thursday, May 8th 2025, burying and slightly injuring two climbers who were quickly rescued by the Chamonix PGHM.
A spectacular serac fall occurred on the morning of Thursday, May 8, around the Mont Blanc du Tacul area. This natural phenomenon triggered a large-scale avalanche on two slopes of this mountain. At an altitude of around 3,750 meters, some 60,000 cubic meters of ice suddenly detached from the front of the hanging glacier located east of the Triangle du Tacul.
The images captured by the Aiguille du Midi webcam clearly show the impressive serac fall that occurred between 10:30 and 10:40 a.m. Thursday morning, generating a significant snow and ice flow. This flow spread both northward, towards the Col du Midi, and eastward, towards the Bassin du Géant.
A phenomenon feared by mountaineers, but well known to specialists
A phenomenon always feared by mountaineers, but well known to specialists: "It's a normal evolution in the mechanics of a hanging glacier," explains geomorphologist and CNRS research director Ludovic Ravanel, noting that the serac had already shown signs of fragility on April 26. At that time, the mass of ice had only triggered a limited avalanche on the north side.
This time, the event had more serious consequences. Two climbers were buried beneath the mudslide. The Chamonix Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM) was quickly alerted and immediately intervened. The two victims were quickly freed. They suffered only minor injuries. A third person, who remained unharmed, was also treated by the specialist unit.
Le Dauphiné
