Where to Ski And Snowboard - Schoolchildren hit by avalanche

Schoolchildren hit by avalanche

13th January 2016, by Abi Butcher

Five avalanche dogs have been involved in the search (Library picture)

An investigation is underway tonight following an avalanche in Les Deux-Alpes that has killed a Ukrainian skier and two schoolchildren. We understand that the schoolchildren had been skiing in a closed area of the resort with an instructor.

The resort said in a statement released 10 minutes ago: “Les 2 Alpes is in shock. Our thoughts go out tonight to the families of the victims.

“Today at 3pm an avalanche started for unknown reasons on a closed area of the ski area of Les 2 Alps.”

A rescue operation involving 100 trackers, five avalanches and paramedics was quickly on the scene. Emergency services are still on site and continuing the search, but they have just confirmed that the remaining schoolchildren have been accounted for.

“An investigation is conducted by the prosecutor of Grenoble,” says the statement.

The avalanche risk in recent days in France has been 4 – high – following colossal snowfalls in the Alps. Some areas have been closed.

Where to Ski and Snowboard’s snow guru, Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk told the Daily Telegraph this afternoon: “Ironically, Les 2 Alpes hasn’t had nearly as much snow as some resorts further north. It has been very windy though, which would have led to dangerous build ups of snow on certain parts of the mountain.

“It’s too early to speculate whether this was the key factor here, but it has to be a major consideration.”