Saturday, October 28, 2023

4 Guides Killed in Avalanche at Armancette Glacier in French Alps

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At least four people have perished in an avalanche in the French Alps, according to the country’s interior minister, Gerald Darmanin. The incident occurred at the Armancette glacier near Mont Blanc in south-eastern France around midday on Sunday local time. Two of the deceased were confirmed to be mountain guides.

Several injured individuals were taken to hospital, and two people remain missing. Jean-Luc Mattel, deputy mayor of the nearby Contamines-Montjoie village, stated that the avalanche was caused by a slab of snow detaching from the top of the mountain. Search and rescue dogs and mountain-rescue teams worked all day to try to reach those who were caught, who are all thought to have been backcountry skiing.

The search for two missing people is expected to resume on Monday. Mr Mattel said the risk level on Sunday morning was “reasonable” and the guides, both of them locals, were highly experienced. He expressed his sorrow for the families of those who had died, saying “Today, we are mourning, and there is great sadness among all of us mountaineers, friends of Les Contamines, those who died are people we knew, and all our thoughts go out to their families.”

Mr Darmanin and French President Emmanuel Macron have also expressed their sympathy. Before the incident, a nearby ski resort called Les Contamines-Montjoie posted a video on social media showing a huge wall of snow moving down from the Dômes de Miage, which the glacier is a part of. An eyewitness told France Television that she was hiking just in front of the Armancette glacier when she saw the avalanche happening and took out her phone to film it.

Officials have warned that a further avalanche could not be ruled out and urged people to be careful if they were venturing off-piste – away from the prepared ski runs. This is not the first time tragedy has struck this area; two brothers died in an avalanche on the same glacier in 2014. They were both experienced mountaineers and had been properly equipped.

The news of the avalanche has been met with shock and sadness across France. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and President Emmanuel Macron have both expressed their sympathy for those affected by the tragedy. Deputy Mayor Jean-Luc Mattel has also expressed his condolences for the families of those who lost their lives, saying “Today, we are mourning, and there is great sadness among all of us mountaineers, friends of Les Contamines, those who died are people we knew, and all our thoughts go out to their families.”

Search and rescue teams continue to search for the two missing individuals, while officials have warned that a further avalanche could not be ruled out. The ski resort Les Contamines-Montjoie has urged people to be cautious if they are venturing off-piste – away from the prepared ski runs. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with backcountry skiing, as two brothers had previously lost their lives in an avalanche on the same glacier in 2014.

The news of this avalanche has been met with shock and sadness across France. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and President Emmanuel Macron have both expressed their sympathy for those affected by this tragedy. Search and rescue teams are continuing to search for the two missing individuals, while officials have warned that a further avalanche could not be ruled out. The ski resort Les Contamines-Montjoie has urged people to be cautious if they are venturing off-piste – away from the prepared ski runs. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with backcountry skiing, as two brothers had previously lost their lives in an avalanche on the same glacier in 2014. Our thoughts go out to the families of those affected by this tragedy.

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