In a tragic series of events, four skiers have lost their lives due to avalanches in the French Alps. Among the victims are three Norwegians and a Swiss woman, all skiing off-piste. The Norwegian group was struck in Val-Cenis, resulting in one woman sustaining serious injuries, while the Swiss woman was killed near Chamonix.
These incidents follow the death of a 55-year-old British man in an avalanche in Les Grands Montets, an area that had been closed off due to high avalanche risks. French authorities have issued multiple avalanche warnings and are urging skiers and hikers to adhere to instructions from resorts and emergency services.
Avalanches claim approximately 30 lives annually in France, and recent years have seen several significant incidents. Mountain rescue officials attribute the increased avalanche risks to climate change, which is causing unstable snow conditions and melting glaciers.