Three killed, four injured in separate avalanches in French Alps

PARAIS: Three people have been killed and four others injured in two separate avalanches in the French Alps, according to Reuters.

According to local authorities, the first avalanche hit around midday in the town of Valloire in southeastern France. The massive snow slide, nearly 300 metres wide, swept across a road and a nearby footpath.

Rescue teams, including mountain police, firefighters, sniffer dogs and army personnel, carried out search operations for more than four hours. However, the operation was later suspended due to fears of more avalanches. Two of the injured are said to be in critical condition and were shifted to nearby hospitals by helicopter.

In another incident, two skiers lost their lives in an off-piste avalanche in the La Grave area of the neighbouring Hautes-Alpes region. The news was confirmed by local prosecutors.

Weather officials have kept the Savoie region on orange avalanche alert, though conditions are expected to improve in the coming days.

The incidents come as France faces heavy snowfall in the Alps and flooding in western areas after days of intense rainfall. Last week, three skiers were also killed in an avalanche at a popular Alpine ski resort.