LYON, January 30, 2025 – Three Norwegian skiers tragically lost their lives on Wednesday after being caught in an avalanche in the French Alps, as reported by the Savoie prefecture.
On the same day, a Swiss skier also died in a separate avalanche in Haute-Savoie, according to the local prosecutor’s office.
The incident occurred at the Val-Cenis ski area, where the three victims were part of a group of seven Norwegian skiers. One member of the group sustained serious injuries, while the remaining three were unharmed, the Savoie prefecture noted.
“This was a significant avalanche that took place outside the designated ski area; it was entirely off-piste,” stated Jacques Arnoux, the mayor of Val-Cenis, as quoted by AFP.
Of the seven skiers who were skiing recreationally, “four were buried, while three were not. Of those buried, three have died, and the last individual, a woman, was in cardiac arrest and suffering from severe hypothermia.” She has since been transported to a hospital in Grenoble, he clarified.
“The skiers were equipped with avalanche beacons (DVA) and were skiing off-piste,” the mayor added.
Initially, a police source mistakenly reported that the deceased skiers were Dutch.
For the rescue operation, ten firefighters trained in high-altitude rescue, who happened to be in the area for training, were deployed, according to police sources.
In Haute-Savoie on the same day, a 30-year-old Swiss skier also perished in an avalanche on the northern face of the Aiguillette des Posettes, as indicated by the Bonneville prosecutor’s office.
She was skiing with her father, who was unharmed, and her brother, who was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation. All three were skiing off-piste and were equipped with DVA and safety airbags, according to the same source.
On Tuesday, a 55-year-old British skier had already died in a “very large” avalanche in the Mont-Blanc massif.
“Two fatal avalanches in two days in Haute-Savoie. The avalanche risk is high (3/5) across all mountain ranges,” the Haute-Savoie prefecture posted on social media on Wednesday, reminding everyone that it is “imperative to check snowpack conditions, go out equipped, and follow safety guidelines.”
