French Alps avalanche: Four hikers killed, others injured

The avalanche that hit a group of skiers on Tuesday near the resort town of Chamonix in the French Alps has left two people dead, and one person is still missing. Five late-season snow enthusiasts were buried under an avalanche in the Aiguilles Rouges mountain range near the Swiss border near Chamonix, rescuers said. The deadly avalanche occurred on the north face of Aiguille d’Argentiere, a summit not far from the Swiss border.

The group consisted of two guides and three skiers, who were skiing with a guide, according to the local authorities. The avalanche occurred after the climbers had ascended to the 3,200m (10,499ft) summit of the Aiguille d’Argentiere, local authorities said. It is not yet known exactly what triggered the avalanche.

Two helicopters, a team of mountain guides, and rescue workers had searched the area on Tuesday afternoon for the missing person. However, their search had to be called off due to a lack of visibility in the area caused by bad weather. The search was resumed on Wednesday by mountain rescue teams and helicopters, officials said.

France’s National Agency for the Study and Monitoring of Snow and Avalanches (ANENA) put the avalanche risk at three out of five in the area at the time of the incident. It warned winter sports enthusiasts to be vigilant due to heavy snow and wind, which creates a high risk of avalanches. As the end of the ski season approaches, the risks of an avalanche in the French Alps increase.

A total of 135 people have died in skiing incidents in the French Alps since the beginning of winter, according to the ANENA. The accident is the latest in a long list of avalanches this year that have caused many deaths in the Alps. In January this year, nine people died in the Italian Alps when they were hit by a wall of snow. Avalanche safety training is important for skiers and mountaineers, and skiers should always heed local warnings and advice.  It is essential to be aware of the snow, wind, temperature changes, and snowpack’s condition when participating in outdoor winter sports.



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