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French Alps tragedy: 4 killed in avalanche

Published  April 9, 2023 3:03pm EDT
World
Associated Press

Casualties reported following avalanche in French Alps

At least four people died, and several others were injured, when an avalanche occurred at the at the Armancette glacier in the French Alps on April 9. (Credit: @domaineskiable via Storyful)

PARIS (AP) - An avalanche in the French Alps killed four people Sunday, France's interior minister said, calling the death toll a provisional count.

The avalanche rolled down the Armancette glacier in Contamines-Montjoie, in the Haute-Savoie region, some 30 kilometers (almost 20 miles) southwest of Chamonix.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin provided no details in his tweet about the deaths. The Alps are a prime vacation spot over France’s long Easter weekend.

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. Two helicopters were sent in to help in the search, the station said, quoting the local prefecture in Thonon.