Landslides in Alps threaten highways, Mont Blanc tunnel

(ANSA) - Aosta, April 21 - Temperature changes were blamed Monday for an ongoing series of landslides that have disrupted traffic in the Mont Blanc tunnel through the Alps that links France and Italy.
    The landslides closed the tunnel, a major transport route from Chamonix in France with Courmayeur in Italy's Aosta Valley, for short periods on Sunday. Authorities feared that rising temperatures Monday could add to the instability and Franco Gabrielli, head of Italy's civil defence agency, was expected to meet with officials in the area to discuss the situation.
    About 80 residents in the small village of La Palud were evacuated earlier due to instability in the mountains around their homes, including Monte di La Saxe above Courmayeur.
    The mayor of Courmayeur was worried about warmer temperatures on Monday raising the risk of further rock and mud slides that began last week.
    "Today, the landslide has again accelerated, temperatures have risen and with that, the speed (of slides)," Fabrizia Derriard told local media.
    Meanwhile, volunteers and civil defence staff worked through the Easter holiday weekend, clearing roads and shoring up protective barriers against further crashing rocks and sliding earth.