Hautes-Alpes: 3 killed in an avalanche, 2 deaths in off-piste skiing – Europe1

Europe 1 Marc-Antoine Guillaume Bindler Biet and AFP Published at 5:29 p.m., April 1, 2015 , Modified at 7:46 p.m., April 1, 2015

A helicopter of the gendarmerie of possible victims to search following an avalanche. (Illustrative photo) © AFP

Marc-Antoine Guillaume Bindler Biet and AFP

The incident occurred at around 15 pm, in the Massif des Ecrins, in the Hautes-Alpes. A group of Austrian touring skiers, was swept away by an avalanche occurred Wednesday at 3483 meters above sea level, in the municipality of Pelvoux, at the Emile Pic neck, above the Ecrins refuge, as revealed France 3 Alps.

The department is also mourning the same day by the deaths of two off-piste skiers, said the Hautes-Alpes prefect micro Europe 1. This simultaneous accident occurred in the massive Dévoluy, according to our information.

3 dead, 7 survivors in the avalanche. According to the latest report of the prefecture of Hautes-Alpes, three lives were lost in the accident. A fourth person was “in a state of” absolute urgency. “She was evacuated by helicopter to Grenoble hospital.

” For now, the last backup completed their research. Seven other people were found unharmed but are very shocked. They stayed at the shelter where we mounted medical means in order to consult, “said the Prefect of the Hautes-Alpes, Pierre Besnard, micro Europe 1 on Wednesday night.” The bodies were repatriated to a chapel which is being prepared. The police are now conducting the search, “still the senior official said, adding that” it is the Austrians. “

The high mountain police squad ( PGHM) of Briançon, in Isère, took over the rescue operations, supported by the PGHM Grenoble and Modane, Savoie. Many rescuers were dispatched to the scene. The wind speed exceeds 80 km / h at the scene of the avalanche, making it difficult for rescuers

“Black day”. 2 skiers die in a simultaneous accident “We live in a black day. Hautes-Alpes because in addition to the avalanche we had in the same day two skiers who were off-track, which unscrewed and which are also deceased, “continued the prefect Pierre Besnard on Europe 1.” All suggests that they were caught in a rocky bar and they fell, “said he said. According to our information, there is a roped backcountry skiers moving off-track has “screwed” in the massive Dévoluy.