Drama in Tignes today. An avalanche with a length of 400 meters buried a total of nine people this morning at 10.35 am. It happened in the Tovière sector, part of the ski area between Tignes and Val d’Isere. The avalanche (a so-called slab avalanche) was triggered when the group, guided by professionals, was skiing off-piste.(Source)
Four fatalities
There’s help from the CRS rescue services from Courchevel and Modane to search for the victims. They are assisted by local guides, ski instructors and ski patrol. Four people already passed away and they’re still searching for other victims. Let’s hope for some positive news.
Peak season
It’s a school holiday right now in France and it’s peak season in the ski resorts. Please read our warning about the unstable snow cover in the Alps at the moment. Already 35 people died in the Alps this season because of avalanches.
So pay attention and keep asking yourself the following questions:
- Do you have the right knowledge?
- Do you (and the other riders in your group) have the gear (avalanche beacon, shovel and probe)?
- Have you read the local avalanche forecast?
- Do you know which parts of the mountain you have to avoid that particular day to minimize the risk?