GRENOBLE, France: An avalanche killed three off-piste skiers, including two Britons, in the French Alps on Friday, prosecutors said a day after several ski resorts shut down due to the risk of snowslides.
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.
Emergency services responded quickly but could not prevent the deaths, a resort official said, noting that all of the victims had avalanche transceivers.
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.
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 1,800 (5,900 feet) to 2,000 meters altitude, according to the Meteo France weather service.
Storm Nils, which passed through France on Thursday, dumped 60-100 centimeters of snow, according to the weather service.
Two British skiers among three dead in French Alps
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Two British skiers among three dead in French Alps
- Emergency services responded quickly but could not prevent the deaths
- Deaths followed a rare, day-long red alert across the southeastern Savoie region
Jordanian king and British MPs in London discuss Middle Eastern developments
- King Abdullah is scheduled to meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and is due to chair a new round of the Aqaba Process initiative
- He warned that Israel’s illegal actions in the occupied West Bank undermine efforts to restore calm
LONDON: King Abdullah II of Jordan met in London on Monday with former British officials and members of Parliament to discuss the latest developments in the region.
King Abdullah warned that Israel’s illegal actions in the occupied West Bank, which aim to consolidate settlements and impose sovereignty over Palestinian land, undermine efforts to restore calm and threaten to escalate the conflict, according to the Petra news agency.
Discussions also addressed the UK’s role in supporting efforts to restore stability within the region, alongside developments in Jerusalem, Gaza, Syria, and Iran.
Crown Prince Hussein accompanies the Jordanian king, who is scheduled to meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and is due to chair a new round of the Aqaba Process initiative, launched in 2015, Petra added.
