Jan 11, 2026, 7:23 p.mJan 11, 2026, 7:23 p.m
A French rescue helicopter in the Alpine region. (symbol image)Image: AP
Two skiers died in two separate avalanches in the Savoie ski resorts of Courchevel and La Plagne on Sunday. Three skiers had already died in the French Alps on Saturday. However, skiers were only injured after avalanches in Tyrol and Vorarlberg.
In La Plagne, France, a 50-year-old British skier was buried under a snow avalanche in the early afternoon, according to a statement from the ski resort. A total of 52 rescue workers, avalanche dogs and a helicopter were on duty. It took 50 minutes before he could only be found dead under 2.5 meters of snow.
In Courchevel, a skier buried under another avalanche was also found dead late on Sunday morning, the ski resort announced without further details.
On Saturday, two French skiers who were off-piste were killed in an avalanche in Val-d’Isère in Savoy, the ski area’s tourist office announced. They were not equipped with avalanche transceivers and could only be located thanks to their cell phones.
Two more people were swept away by an avalanche in Arêches-Beaufort on Saturday afternoon. One suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital. The other did not survive despite attempts by rescue workers to resuscitate him.
Great danger of avalanches also in Tyrol and Vorarlberg
Several avalanches occurred in Tyrol on Sunday. A ski tourer was hit by an avalanche and buried on the north side of the Weerberg below the Wetterkreuz. She was found in critical condition without a search device.
There were two minor injuries in two further avalanche events in St. Anton am Arlberg. A winter sports enthusiast was also buried by an avalanche in the Rofanspitze area in the Kufstein district. But he survived the avalanche uninjured.
A 17-year-old German in Jochberg in the Kitzbühel district was also very lucky. According to police, the skier triggered a snow slab in open terrain but escaped. He then crossed a 40 degree steep eastern slope and above him another slab of snow came loose. The winter sports athlete was hit, but was able to deploy the airbag in his backpack and came to a stop on the surface of the snow masses. He remained uninjured. (sda/afp)