At least five people died on Sunday when a glacier "burst and slid" off a mountain in the Italian Alps, local rescue services said.

According to foreign media, Telegraph reports, apart from them, eight other people were injured during the accident on the Marmolada peak of the eastern Dolomites.

Local media described how masses of ice, snow and debris slid down the mountain before hitting the climbers.

"Unfortunately, five people were found dead," emergency services spokeswoman Michela Canova told Agence France-Presse, adding that the number of injured "remains a provisional count."

The injured, including one person in critical condition, were taken to several hospitals in the Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto regions, according to rescue officials.

They said at least five helicopters and several rescue dogs were deployed during the search.

Rescue workers had to proceed with caution due to the risk of further ice and rock collapse.

Meanwhile, some images have been published that are said to show the moment when the glacier breaks off and descends into the valley.

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Telegraph

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