French Alps tragedy as six killed near Mont Blanc in avalanche

675     0
The avalanche struck at the Armancette glacier in the Haute Savoie region (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The avalanche struck at the Armancette glacier in the Haute Savoie region (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Six people have now been confirmed dead following a devastating avalanche in the Alps, French authorities say.

The disaster struck in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps on Sunday, when an avalanche thundered down the Armancette glacier in Contamines-Montjoie, around 20 miles south west of Chamonix.

Two mountain guides were included in the death toll, authorities said on Monday.

The prosecutor's office in nearby Bonneville said the body of a sixth person has been found after searches resumed on Monday morning.

French Alps tragedy as six killed near Mont Blanc in avalanche qhiqqhiqquihinvSix people have been confirmed dead in Sunday's disaster (AFP via Getty Images)

One person was also sent to the hospital with minor injuries following the avalanche, with eight other people found unharmed.

Horror as two skiers killed in terrifying avalanche that hit popular ski resortHorror as two skiers killed in terrifying avalanche that hit popular ski resort

Details and identities of the victims confirmed so far have yet to be released.

The local France-Bleu radio station put the size of the avalanche at 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) long and 100 meters (328 feet) wide.

National weather agency Meteo France had not issued a specific avalanche warning for Sunday, assessing the risk as "limited."

France's Haute Savoie is visited by nearly 38m each year to enjoy winter sports and the area's outstanding natural beauty, with the Easter break one of its busiest times.

Susie Beever

Avalanche, Skiing, Alps tragedies

Read more similar news:

03.02.2023, 16:20 • News
Mum nearly loses eye after crashing £180 e-scooter she bought to ride to shops
04.02.2023, 11:07 • News
Coldest wind chill ever recorded in the US as polar vortex hits
06.02.2023, 01:57 • More
February half term holidays could be hit by strikes including France and Spain
08.02.2023, 06:01 • News
King Charles cancels annual ski trip to avoid getting injured before coronation
08.02.2023, 12:26 • News
'My girlfriend invited pals on a romantic trip for the two of us - I left early'
09.02.2023, 08:44 • Sport
Skier Elena Fanchini dies aged 37 after Olympics ace had career ended by tumour
11.02.2023, 19:36 • World
Terrifying moment wild boar crashes into ski resort and attacks two snowboarders
13.02.2023, 05:30 • News
Brit, 50, dies after falling 'several dozen metres' while skiing in French Alps
19.02.2023, 12:16 • News
David and Victoria's luxury family ski holiday as they don £25k Prada looks
21.02.2023, 07:23 • News
Six children are among 16 British skiers injured in car crash in the French Alps