A series of avalanches have struck the ski resort of Val Thorens in the French Alps this Thursday, killing one pedestrian and prompting the closure of the ski area due to the extreme avalanche risk.
According to local authorities, a person was buried under a snow slide at 10am and was found in cardiac arrest. The incident occurred on the road at the entrance to the ski resort which was closed at the time. Alerted by an eye witness the man was recovered by local police. The victim was been evacuated to Grenoble hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The prefecture of Savoie confirmed that four avalanches occurred during the morning — two in Val Thorens and two in the neighboring resort of Les Menuires. All were triggered by exceptionally heavy snowfall in the region over the past few days, described as an “extreme weather-snowfall event” by meteorological and avalanche experts.
The avalanche risk in Val Thorens was raised to level 5 out of 5 at 6am today — the highest possible rating — with very large spontaneous avalanches observed earlier. As a result, the entire ski area has been closed, with a progressive reopening planned for April 18 depending on weather and safety assessments by the SETAM (ski lift management company).
A safety lockdown has been implemented throughout the resort. Movement within the station is strongly discouraged, and residents and tourists have been advised to remain inside secure buildings such as lodgings, schools, shops, or daycares. This measure is not a stay-at-home order but a collective safety response due to the continuing threat of spontaneous avalanches, even within the resort perimeter. However at 4pm there still appeared to be a number of people out and about on the front neige.
Despite the confinement, shops remain open and continue to serve the public under strict safety protocols.
The road between Les Menuires and Val Thorens has been closed until further notice, with a potential reopening scheduled for later in the day, once the lockdown is lifted and the area has been deemed safe. On the 21st November 1992, seven skiers were killed by a massif avalanche on the ski slopes of Val Thorens following weeks of heavy snowfall. The resort had 3 meters of snow at 2850 meters altitude which, according to the investigation, was destabilized by a sudden thaw.
The avalanche bulletin warned of an unprecedented snowfall event (retour d'est) in the Vanoise mountain range with over a meter of fresh snow at the altitude of Val Thorens:
The Savoie prefecture has warned that in view of the snow accumulations recorded, the avalanche risk will remain particularly high. Over the next few days, and especially tomorrow, they advise people to avoid all mountain activities (hiking, snowshoeing, ski touring, etc.) outside open and secured ski slopes. Meteo France have said it is the heaviest April snowfall since 1962 in some areas.