At least four people were killed and several others injured in an avalanche that struck the French Alps over the weekend. Four killed as avalanche sweeps French Alps mountainside.
Emergency workers were deployed after the incident at the Armancette glacier near Mont Blanc in southeast France, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted on Sunday. Rescue work is ongoing.
Clouds of snow rolled down the mountainside, according to video footage shared by Reuters that was tweeted by a nearby ski station, Contamines-Montjoie.
The avalanche spread across an area of 1 kilometer by 500 meters, at an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,480 feet), according to a spokesperson for the local authorities of Haute-Savoie, Reuters reported.
The people swept away by the avalanche were backcountry skiing and the identities of the victims are being confirmed.
The mayor of the town of Contamines-Montjoie, Francois Barbier, told Agence France-Presse it was “the most deadly avalanche this season.
French President Emmanuel Macron sent his condolences to the victims and their loved ones. Four killed as avalanche sweeps French Alps mountainside.
“At the Armancette glacier in the Alps, an avalanche has caused casualties. We are thinking of them and their families. Our rescue forces have been mobilized to find people still stuck in the snow. Our thoughts are with them too,” Macron tweeted on Sunday.
The French Alps are a popular destination for mountain enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The mountainside offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and a variety of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.
One popular destination in the French Alps is Chamonix, a town at the base of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe. From here, visitors can take a cable car to the Aiguille du Midi, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Other popular destinations in the French Alps include Les Deux Alpes, Val Thorens, and Tignes, all of which offer a variety of winter sports activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing. During the summer months, visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing.
No matter where you go in the French Alps, the mountainside will offer breathtaking views and a wide range of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.
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