Five skiers died yesterday in two separate avalanches in the French Alps, DPA reported, citing local media, BTA reported.
In the Savoie region, 4 Norwegian skiers died near Val Canis, the French newspaper "Dauphin Liber" and the television channel TF1 reported, citing local authorities. The group of 7 skiers were on an off-piste tour when a huge avalanche hit, sweeping away four of them. Three bodies were found at the scene of the incident, and a woman who was airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble later died.
A 30-year-old Swiss skier died 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 an avalanche warning. A 55-year-old British skier was also killed by an avalanche near Mont Blanc on Tuesday.