Two further skier deaths confirmed after weekend avalanches in French Alps
Experienced ski tourers were found when avalanche transceivers emitted warning
The skiers were reported missing after they failed to attend work. Photo shows mountain routes near La Chapelle-d’Abondance
Sylvain200480/Shutterstock
The deaths of two skiers in the Haute-Savoie Alps after avalanches on Sunday (February 22) have been confirmed by local authorities.
The victims, two women in their 50s, were found on Monday near La Chapelle-d’Abondance, after they were reported missing from work.
A vehicle was found parked at the start of a nearby route used for ski hiking (ski de randonnée), prompting a search and rescue operation.
The two women were found buried underneath the snow at depths of 50cm and 150cm respectively, and had been submerged for several hours.
They were equipped with avalanche transceivers (détecteurs de victimes d'avalanches), which emitted a signal when rescue workers in a helicopter flew over the route.
Deaths happened despite lower avalanche warning level
The women were members of the local Club alpin français Léman ski-hiking club, and were well-versed in ski touring.
At the time of the avalanche on Sunday, Haute-Savoie faced a 3/5 avalanche warning risk from state forecaster Météo France, lower than several recent days. Warnings use the 5-point European Avalanche Danger Scale to categorise risk from low (1) to very high (5).
Rising mild temperatures including record February highs, in addition to several days of snowfall across the Alps, have led to warnings about the risk of further avalanches.
The incident further adds to France’s Alpine death toll this winter season.
As of Thursday (February 26) at least 30 people have died across French sections of the Alps, among them several Britons.
A high number of accidents have been caused by avalanches, in addition to off-piste skiing.
Alongside the deaths, there is growing concern over the conduct of some visitors to French ski slopes.
