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French Alps avalanche kills seven climbers French Alps avalanche kills seven climbers
(35 minutes later)
Seven people have been killed in an avalanche in the French Alps – the deadliest to hit the mountain range this year. Seven people have been killed by an avalanche in the French Alps in one of the country’s worst snowslides in a decade.
“The toll has increased – seven people have died,” said Pierre Besnard, a local official who had earlier put the number of deaths at five, with two people missing. The avalanche struck at around midday at the Snow Dome in the Alps’ Massif des Écrins, an easily accessible 4,000-metre (13,000-ft) mountain popular with climbers.
He added that rescuers were continuing their search to make sure there were no other victims. The snowslide, which was the deadliest avalanche to hit the Alps this year, swept away eight people, including several foreign climbers. One person was injured.
The avalanche struck at about midday at the Snow Dome in the Écrins massif, an easily accessible 4,000-metre (13,000-feet) mountain that is hugely popular with climbers. Pierre Besnard, prefect of the Hautes-Alpes region, said the avalanche had struck three groups of roped climbers. Staff at a nearby mountain refuge alerted authorities to the avalanche, he told BFMTV.
It swept away eight people, among whom were foreign climbers, police said, adding they did not yet know their nationalities. One person was injured. Le Figaro reported that the victims included German and Czech climbers. Police officials did not confirm any foreign nationalities.
Climbers and skiers are sporadically caught in avalanches in the Alps, particularly during the winter season, but this is the deadliest accident so far this year. Search and rescue teams, including three helicopters and groups of search dogs, were continuing to scour the mountain to ensure there had been no other victims.
The peak, near the town of Pelvoux, is popular because it is a climb that is not considered to be too difficult for amateurs, although avalanches are a risk at the summit.
Climbers and skiers are sporadically caught in avalanches in the popular Alps, particularly during the winter, but this was the deadliest accident so far this year.
In January, six skiers were carried away by an avalanche in the Queyras range, and just over two months later, three died in the Écrins massif.In January, six skiers were carried away by an avalanche in the Queyras range, and just over two months later, three died in the Écrins massif.
Christian Flagella, a member of the police force in the Hautes-Alpes region, where the mountain is located, said the avalanche was likely triggered when a layer of snow separated and hurtled down the hill. Christian Flagella, a member of the police force in the Hautes-Alpes region, where the mountain is located, said the avalanche was probably triggered when a layer of snow separated and hurtled down the hill. “The conditions are winter-like at the moment,” he told Agence France-Presse.
“The conditions are winter-like at the moment,” he said.