Five skiers died yesterday in two separate avalanches in the French Alps, DPA reported, citing local media.
In the Savoie region, four Norwegian skiers died in Val Canis, the French newspaper "Dauphin Liber" and the television channel TF1 reported, citing local authorities. The group of seven skiers were on an off-piste tour when a huge avalanche hit, sweeping away four of them. Three bodies were found at the scene, and a woman who was airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble later died.
A 30-year-old Swiss skier was killed in another avalanche near Vallorcine, north of the Mont Blanc massif. She was hiking off-piste with her father and brother when the avalanche hit her, Le Figaro reported, citing local prosecutors. Her father is unharmed and her brother has been taken to hospital for a medical examination.
Local French authorities have issued a warning of an increased risk of avalanches.
A 55-year-old British skier was also buried by an avalanche near Mont Blanc on Tuesday and died.