Dozens of people have been evacuated from an Italian ski resort over fears that a chunk of a Mont Blanc glacier could break away after local temperatures soared.
The size of the ice block from the Planpincieux Glacier is around 500,000 cubic metres – the same as Milan’s cathedral, according to Valerio Segor, who directs the local natural risk management service.
"Any fall would be capable of considerable damage and also travel a long way," Mr Segor said.
Roads leading to the popular hiking valley of Val Ferret have been closed and 75 people, mainly tourists, were evacuated after an alert from Stefano Miserocchi, the mayor of nearby Courmayeur.
"The evacuation was urgent and imperative," Mr Miserocchi told reporters. "The situation foresees a high alert in the next 72 hours."
The precarious chunk of ice is located about 2,600 to 2,800 metres above sea level and slowly detaching, Mr Segor said.
"With our monitoring systems and photographic comparisons we have identified a sector of the glacier that is giving way, at a not exaggerated speed," he said.
The thermal shock of high temperatures, which then turned cold before rising again, had made the glacier much more fragile and at greater risk of collapse, he said.
"The water flowing underneath can, in fact, act as a 'slide'. It is the most dangerous situation and one most predisposed to collapse."
Last autumn another section of ice from the Planpincieux Glacier threatened to collapse, prompting road closures in the area.
Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps at more than 4,800 metres.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Japan
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
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RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
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Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
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Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
The past winners
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2011 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2013 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2017 - Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
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INFO
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Arsenal 0
Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
