On Wednesday, the French Alps witnessed devastating avalanches that resulted in the death of five skiers, confirmed local officials. The first avalanche occurred in Val-Cenis, located in the southeastern Savoie region, where four Norwegians tragically lost their lives. Three of the deceased were killed instantly, while a fourth, a woman, succumbed to severe hypothermia and cardiorespiratory arrest in a nearby hospital. They were part of a larger group of seven skiers, three of whom were uninjured and reportedly equipped with avalanche beacons during their off-piste adventure, which is known for its increased risks. Mayor Jacques Arnoux of Val-Cenis described the avalanche as substantial, stating that it was triggered outside the designated ski area.
Tragic Avalanches Claim Lives of Five Skis in French Alps
Tragic Avalanches Claim Lives of Five Skis in French Alps
In a series of tragic events, five skiers have lost their lives in two avalanches in the French Alps, highlighting the dangers of off-piste skiing.
The second incident involved a Swiss skier, a 30-year-old woman, who was killed in an avalanche in the Haute-Savoie region, near Chamonix. She was skiing with her brother, who was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests, while their father was unharmed. All three had anti-avalanche airbags, a precaution commonly used by backcountry skiers venturing into dangerous terrains in the Mont Blanc massif mountain range. This calamity follows a previous tragedy on Tuesday, when a 55-year-old Brazilian-Portuguese skier was also killed in a large avalanche on an off-piste section of Mont Blanc. The series of incidents raises concerns regarding ski safety, particularly in off-piste areas, where dangers can escalate rapidly.
