Three dead as avalanche hits school trip
Investigation after two children and one adult die on closed piste in French Alps
Three people have been killed and three others seriously injured after an avalanche in the French Alps hit a group of schoolchildren on a skiing trip.
Two French pupils and a Ukrainian tourist died, while two more schoolchildren and their teacher remain in a critical condition.
The avalanche struck on a closed piste in the Les Deux Alpes area of Isere. Rescue teams have now accounted for everyone in the area.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A spokesman from the Isere prefect's office told France Info radio that the school group should "probably not" have been on the closed piste, but added that an investigation would have to take place into whether the correct warning signs were in place.
The piste had been closed since the beginning of the season due to a lack of snow over the holiday period, a manager at Les Deux Alpes told local media.
Heavy snowfall in recent days had increased the risk of avalanches, said the regional government.
Witnesses told France Bleu radio station the avalanche was likely to have been triggered due to groups skiing through the area.
French President Francois Hollande offered "sincere condolences" to the victims' families and said "the solidarity of the whole nation" was with them.
Daniel Stanford, an electrical contractor from the UK on holiday in the Alps, told The Guardian he just avoided the avalanche and was only alerted to what happened "when scores of people were heading to the mountain to help dig and offer help".
"The helicopter came and went up to five times while I was there, dropping supplies, stretchers and dogs to help locate victims. It was a very sombre time on the mountain and we all still can't believe what happened," he said.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine interactive crossword - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published