Four people were killed yesterday in an avalanche in the popular French ski resort of Tignes.
The 400-metre wide avalanche swept through an off-piste area of the resort, reportedly hitting the group of three – a father and his two teenage sons – and their guide, aged 59, as they were walking with their snowboards. It is believed they were all French nationals.
The ski station said the avalanche appears to have been set off by a group of skiers higher up the mountain.
Local media said the group were only a few dozen metres from the ski lift when the avalanche struck.
The incident happened at 10.30am on Monday at the start of the busy half-term period.
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The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised anyone in the area to follow the advice of the local authorities and told anyone concerned about family members to call the local town hall on +33 4 79 40 09 91 for information (English available).
Bulgarian ski specialist Balkan Holidays was one of the first to express its condolences on Twitter.
Accommodation specialist at neighbouring resort Val d’Isere tweeted:
