Tragic Mont Blanc Climb: Four Lives Lost on Europe's Highest Peak

French rescue officials discovered the bodies of two Italian and two South Korean climbers near Mont Blanc's peak. The climbers, who went missing in severe weather, succumbed to hypothermia. Rescue efforts were hampered by poor conditions. Meanwhile, an intricate operation successfully saved two other Korean climbers.

French rescue officials announced on Tuesday that they had found the bodies of two Italian and two South Korean climbers close to the peak of Mont Blanc. The climbers had gone missing on Saturday amid severe weather conditions.

The Chamonix-Mont Blanc search and rescue team recovered the bodies at an altitude of 4,700 meters, or over 15,400 feet, on the Alps' highest peak. The climbers had succumbed to hypothermia, according to rescue officials.

The four unaccompanied climbers had alerted rescuers on Saturday afternoon, but deteriorating weather conditions hindered rescuers from reaching them by ground or helicopter. Fortunately, two other Korean climbers were rescued on Sunday morning at an altitude of 4,100 meters (over 13,400 feet) through a complex operation. French authorities have since opened an investigation.

(With inputs from agencies.)