The authorities in the French Savoie, where ski resorts such as Val d'Isère and Val Thorens are located, are urging people to be extra cautious after the area has been hit by numerous avalanches in recent days. On Christmas Day, a 13-year-old boy died when he was swept away by an avalanche in the ski resort of Les Arcs. The boy was skiing off-piste.
Earlier in the week, a father and his two sons were injured when they were swept away by an avalanche in Val d'Isère. On the same day, Swiss snowboarder Sophie Hediger also died in an avalanche accident in the Swiss Alps.
The reason for the high avalanche risk is the intense snowfall in recent days. Météo France has recorded 60 cm to one meter of snow in many areas of the northern Alps.
"Remarkable amounts of snow combined with strong winds have recently affected the Savoie massif, significantly increasing the risk of avalanches," the municipality writes in a press release.
Currently, the avalanche risk is estimated to be level three on a five-level scale, which can lead to spontaneous avalanches. The authorities emphasize that most avalanche accidents last year occurred when the avalanche risk was at level three. Therefore, the public is urged to take "all necessary precautions" and follow the general guidelines.
