One person has died on Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe on the border between France and Italy, after masses of ice broke off from a glacier.

Four more people were injured when a block of glacial ice, known as a sérac, fell in the Mont Blanc du Tacul region at approximately 3 a.m. on Monday morning.

One of those injured was taken to hospital in "serious" condition, the other three in a "relatively serious" condition.

A group of 15 mountaineers were in the area, which is 4,100 meters (13,450 ft.) above sea level and 700 meters below the peak.

After rescue teams used dogs and a helicopter to reach the group, local officials confirmed that the deceased person was a French national.

The other members of the group were reported to be Swiss and Spanish citizens.

Officials said that the fall was caused by natural processes.

mf/wmr (Reuters, dpa)