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Six off-piste skiers died in multiple avalanches across French Alps resorts over the weekend despite level 4 avalanche warnings. Incidents occurred in Courchevel, Vallorcine, La Plagne, Arêches-Beaufort, and Val-d'Isère.
Tragic Weekend in French Alps Claims Six Lives
A devastating weekend in the French Alps has left six skiers dead after being caught in multiple avalanches across various resorts. All victims were skiing off-piste despite avalanche warnings being at level 4 on the European danger scale, just one level below the maximum risk.
Multiple Incidents Across Alpine Resorts
The fatal incidents occurred in several popular ski areas including Courchevel, Vallorcine, La Plagne, Arêches-Beaufort, and Val-d'Isère. On Sunday alone, three skiers lost their lives in separate avalanches. In Courchevel, a skier was found buried under snow in the Roche-Grise off-piste area and could not be resuscitated. Meanwhile, in Vallorcine, a 32-year-old skier was thrown against a tree by an avalanche and died from his injuries. 'A friend of the victim witnessed the accident and raised the alarm,' reported local authorities to French newspaper Le Monde.
In La Plagne, a British man in his fifties was found buried under 2.5 meters of snow after an avalanche in an off-piste area. The resort reported that 52 rescuers, a search dog, and a helicopter participated in the search. 'He was found after 50 minutes and resuscitated, but it was too late,' said resort officials. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Saturday's Fatalities and Rescue Operations
On Saturday, three off-piste skiers also died in the Savoie department. One skier was buried in Arêches-Beaufort, while two men were killed in Val-d'Isère after being swept away by an avalanche. 'They could be located by their phones and were found under 2.5 meters of snow. Help arrived too late,' wrote Le Dauphine. In Tignes, a snowboarder was injured after being partially buried up to his waist and was hospitalized for hypothermia.
Authorities Issue Stern Warnings
French authorities have been warning about unstable snow conditions due to recent snowfall. 'For your own safety and that of rescue teams: be extremely careful,' warned police on social media. 'Off-piste skiing is strongly discouraged.' The Météo France weather bureau had issued avalanche warnings throughout the weekend, with danger levels at 4 out of 5. According to the Savoie prefecture, there were six avalanches in ski areas alone on Sunday morning.
Avalanche Safety Equipment Critical
Experts emphasize that proper avalanche safety equipment could make the difference between life and death. Essential gear includes avalanche transceivers (beacons), probes, shovels, and avalanche airbag backpacks. 'Even the lightest transceiver-probe-shovel combos weigh around two pounds, but this minimal weight could save your life,' notes avalanche safety experts. Companies like Mammut and Deuter offer specialized equipment designed to improve survival chances in avalanche situations.
The European avalanche danger scale ranges from 1 (low) to 5 (very high), with level 4 indicating 'high' danger where natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely. These tragic incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of heeding avalanche warnings and carrying proper safety equipment when venturing into off-piste terrain.
