A series of dramatic events triggered by avalanches occurred in the French Alps on Tuesday. As a result of two separate accidents, three people were killed and four were injured. Among the fatalities are a Polish citizen and a British man of Polish descent. Local rescue services were forced to suspend some operations due to extremely dangerous weather conditions and the risk of further snow slides.
Three Fatalities
A Polish citizen, a Polish man with a British passport, and a third tourist were killed in the accidents; two victims were over 30 years old.
Dangerous Off-Piste Descent
A group of five skiers was descending in the prohibited La Cote Fine sector, which directly led to them being swept away by snow.
Rescue Operation Suspended
In Savoie, service operations were halted due to poor weather conditions; four people were injured there.
Dramatic events unfolded on Tuesday in the southeastern part of France. The first tragic incident took place in the department of Hautes-Alpes, in the La Grave area. A group of five skiers, moving off-piste in the La Cote Fine sector, was swept away by masses of snow. Mountain rescuers found two people in cardiac arrest. Despite immediate resuscitation, the lives of two men over the age of 30 could not be saved. The victims were identified as a Polish citizen and a British man of Polish descent. Simultaneously, in Savoie, in the town of Valloire, a powerful avalanche about 300 meters wide came down. The force swept across a road and a hiking trail, carrying away more people. In this region, one tourist was killed and four people were injured. As reported by the Prefecture of Savoie, the rescue operation in this area had to be temporarily halted due to a sudden deterioration in weather. Statistics show that the French Alps are among the most risky skiing regions in Europe; during the 2021/2022 winter season, several dozen fatal accidents caused by avalanches were recorded there. The public prosecutor's office in Gap has launched an investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the accident in La Grave. The services warn of extremely difficult conditions in the higher parts of the mountains. They point out that freeride skiing at the current avalanche danger level involves enormous risk. „The victims were found in a state of cardiac and respiratory arrest after being swept away by an avalanche while skiing in the Côte Fine sector.” — Prosecutor in Gap It is forecast that the danger level in the region will remain high in the coming days. 300 meters — was the width of the avalanche in Valloire Liberal-leaning media place greater emphasis on the lack of proper training for skiers and the need to tighten regulations concerning tourism. | Conservative editorial teams focus on the heroism of rescuers and the personal dimension of the tragedy for the victims and their families.