France

France: At Least Six Skiers Killed in Avalanches

Is this tragedy the result of the public ignoring warnings, or the outcome of unique and dangerous weather conditions?

Published JAN 12

France: At Least Six Skiers Killed in Avalanches

Story

Above: Snowfall at Les Deux Alpes in the French Alps on Jan. 8. Image credit: Elise Cabane/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

At least six skiers died in separate avalanches in the French Alps over the weekend, according to reports and a number of local officials.
Le Monde
SnowBrains
It came as an Arctic blast — dubbed Storm Goretti — continued to bring heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures and high winds to large parts of Europe. Ahead of the past weekend, in addition to the widespread disruption to travel, there were reportedly at least 10 weather-related deaths across the continent.
Sever Weather Europe
CGTN
SnowBrains
EuroNews
With warming temperatures and reduced snowfall forcing the closure of dozens of ski resorts across the Alps in recent years, the coming of the Arctic blast — and its accompanying snowfall — was welcomed by resorts and skiers, with levels at 131% of their averages for this period.
Yahoo! News
BBC News
guardian
TimeOut
On The Snow
Chalet Line
However, this past weekend marked a deadly one for skiers in France. Sunday's announcement from La Plagne ski resort that a British man, believed to be in his fifties, was found under 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) of snow following a 50-minute search was the third announcement of a fatality that day. It came after three additional deaths were previously reported on Saturday.
guardian
Le Monde
SnowBrains
While La Plagne said the British man had been off-piste skiing before being buried by snow, the ski resort did not specify that detail in announcing the death of another skier at Courchevel earlier in the day. Prior, officials confirmed that all those whose lives were claimed by avalanches had been off-piste skiing.
Le Monde
SnowBrains
A 32-year-old off-piste skier was killed at Vallorcine in the Haute-Savoie region, officials said Sunday, while a day earlier, three people were killed in two separate avalanches. Two French off-piste skiers died at Val d'Isère early on Saturday, and later in the day, officials at Arêches-Beaufort said two people were swept away by an avalanche while off-piste skiing. One could not be resuscitated while another was receiving hospital treatment after suffering a serious head injury.
Le Monde
SnowBrains
Planet Ski

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Sadly, these deaths come despite persistent warnings from authorities about the dangers of off-piste skiing in these conditions. The current danger of avalanches is bordering between levels 4 and 5 — meaning high and extreme — and absolute vigilance is needed. Officials are stunned by the number of people ignoring safety warnings and heading out into the backcountry without the requisite equipment, such as shovels and tracking beacons.

SnowBrains

Narrative B

Due to the amount of snow that has fallen in recent days, it's on an unsteady base according to officials, and that is what is causing the increase in avalanches, making skiing conditions more dangerous. That means even if weather conditions lift, a high degree of vigilance is needed, following all guidance from local ski resorts and officials.

Planet Ski