French Alps Avalanche Strikes Skiers On Closed Piste At Les Deux Alpes Resort Leaving Two French Teens and One Ukrainian Citizen Dead
Les Deux Alpes, France – At around 4 PM on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 an avalanche killed three people in the Les Deux Alpes area in the French Alps. The avalanche hit a group of ten students from the Lyon Saint-Exupery school in Lyon, France who were skiing with their teacher. A Ukranian skier not connected with the group was also in the avalanche. Two French teenagers and the Ukrainian citizen died.
According to the New York Times, the French Interior Ministry says that all students have been found. At least one person is seriously injured. The BBC writes that, “Three others – two pupils and a teacher – were seriously injured. The two pupils were found in state of cardiac arrest and the teacher was unconscious.” All students have now been accounted for.
Over 80 people took part in the rescue effort. Those rescuers included police, search dogs, SAR teams, military personnel, ski patrol, and mountain professionals. There were helicopters involved to transport the dead and injured off the mountain. Rescuers used thermal cameras to help find victims.
Les Deux Alpes received over 33 cm of new snow on Wednesday after a dry December. The avalanche occurred on a north-facing, closed ski run at approximately 2,500 meters called Bellecombe, which had been closed since the beginning of the ski season. The avalanche was 20 meters wide and 300 meters long. At the time, the avalanche risk was level 3 of 5. The BBC notes that the avalanche was most likely triggered by the skiers on the closed piste.
According to the DailyMail.co.uk, a judicial inquiry will determine why the teacher took the students onto a closed run.
Les Deux Alpes is the second oldest ski resort in France and claims to have the largest skiable glacier in Europe. It is located 71 km southeast of Grenoble, France.
We will try to update this post as more information becomes available.
UPDATE 1/14: According to SnowBrains.com, the teacher will face charges of involuntary manslaughter. He has not been taken into custody because he is in serious condition at a Grenoble hospital.
______________________________________________
Read More About The Deux Alpes Resort Avalanche from these sources:
______________________________________________
Six people have died in avalanches in Europe in January 2016 already:
- Avalanche Kills Two Italian Cross Country Skiers In Swiss Alps
- Two Skiers Die In Separate Avalanches In French Alps
- Mont Blanc Avalanche Kills Two Lithuanian Climbers
