Five skiers killed in French Alps avalanches

Five skiers were killed in two separate avalanches in the French Alps on Wednesday, local officials confirmed.

A stormy snow came to Val-Zenis, in the Southeast Savoy region, killing four Norwegian skiers, while Swiss skier died north in the Hout-Savii area near Chamoni.

Three of the Norwegians were killed instantly while the fourth, a woman, died in a nearby hospital after suffering severe hypothermia and cardiophythorial arrest.

They were part of a greater group of seven skiors, and the other three were unharmed.

Jacques Arnu, mayor of Val-Sishes, told AFP that every member of the group had worn an avalanche beacon as they were seamlessly skiing.

Also known as background skiing, it refers to any area that is not marked or maintained for use by skiers and is significantly more dangerous.

“It was a large -sized avalanche that was triggered outside the ski area,” added Mayor Arnux.

A team of 10 mountain rescue specialists were sent to the operation, a police source said.

The Swiss victim, a 30-year-old woman, skiing with her brother, who was taken to a test hospital, and her father, who was unharmed.

All three had anti-avalange airbags and skiing outside the track in the Matt Blanc mountain range.

Tuesday was a 55-year-old Brazilian-Portuguese skier Killed in a “very large” avalanche of section outside the track Mont BlancS