Avalanche in French Alps kills four people and injures nine others

Horror in the French Alps as huge avalanche kills four skiers and injures nine others near Mont Blanc – amid fears death toll could rise

• Those caught up in the avalanche were backcountry skiing, local authorities say

A huge avalanche in the French Alps has killed four people and injured nine others – amid fears the death toll could increase.

The avalanche took place in the middle of the day on the Armancette glacier southwest of Mont Blanc.

Those caught up in it were backcountry skiing in the mountains, said Emmanuel Coquand, spokesperson for the local authorities of Haute-Savoie, adding that they were still confirming the identity of the victims. 

The avalanche, one of France’s worst in recent years, comes during the Easter long weekend, when skiers from around the country and the UK to flock to the popular spot. 

The avalanche occurred in the middle of the day on the Armancette glacier in the Haute-Savoie region

The Armancette glacier lies near the village and ski resort of Les Contamines-Montjoie, some 30 kilometres (almost 20 miles) south-west of Chamonix in the Haute-Savoie region

The avalanche was extensive, covering an area of one km by 500 metres (half a mile by 550 yards) at an altitude of 3,500 metres, according to authorities.

The glacier lies near the village and ski resort of Les Contamines-Montjoie, some 30 kilometres (almost 20 miles) south-west of Chamonix. 

President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement on Twitter that rescue services were continuing to search for further casualties and that his thoughts were with the victims and their families. 

Two helicopters were sent in to help in the search, a local radio station said, quoting the local prefecture in Thonon. 

The ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie today shared a video showing a wall of snow moving down from the Dômes de Miage, which the Armancette glacier is a part of.

In the post, the Domaine Skiable des Contamines-Montjoie urged people to be careful when skiing off-piste.

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