Two British skiers are among three people killed in an avalanche in the French Alps.
The avalanche in Val d’Isere swept away six skiers, killing one French national and the two Britons, prosecutor Benoit Bachelet said. A third British citizen suffered minor injuries, he added.
There have now been at least 25 avalanche deaths in France this winter season, with the majority occurring since January.
The deaths followed a rare, day-long red alert across the southeastern Savoie region on Thursday – a danger level issued only twice before since the system was introduced 25 years ago.
The warning prompted several resorts to close all or part of their pistes.
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On Friday, the red alert was lifted Friday in Savoie but the risk level remained high across the Alps, with ‘very unstable snow cover’ especially above 6,000 feet altitude, according to the Meteo France weather service.
Storm Nils, which passed through France on Thursday, dumped 60-100 centimetres of snow, according to the weather service.
The Brits were reportedly part of a group of five people accompanied by an instructor who were off-piste skiing, according to the BBC.
The Val d’Isère ski resort’s website said off-piste skiing is ‘strongly discouraged’ due to a ‘very high avalanche risk’.
Piste chief Cedric Bonnevie said one of the trio appeared to have been caught high up on the slope.
The other two were among a group of five, including a professional guide, further down the mountain face and did not see the avalanche coming.
Mr Bonnevie said it was not clear what caused the avalanche.
An FCDO Spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of an accident in which two British men have died in France.
‘We are in contact with the local authorities and stand ready to offer consular assistance.’
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