Powerful avalanche in French Alps kills 6

On the afternoon of last Sunday (09), an avalanche fatally killed 6 people and left some injured. 8 people were found unharmed. Searches are still ongoing and this number may change. The accident was announced via Twitter by French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and confirmed by President Emmanuel Macron.

The avalanche occurred in the town of Contamines-Montjoie on the Armancette glacier. The president wrote on Twitter after learning of the accident that there had been an accident “On the Armancette glacier, in the Alps, an avalanche caused casualties. We are thinking of them and their families. To find people still trapped in the snow, our rescue forces are mobilized. Our thoughts also follow them.”.

The tragedy that occurred in the French Alps was extensive. According to official information, the landslide covered an area of ​​1 kilometer and 500 meters wide, at an altitude of 3500 meters. The causes are still being investigated, but the hypotheses that are currently being investigated are that the heat and strong winds that hit the region at the time could have caused the avalanche.

According to the Contamines-Montjoie Security Secretary, this avalanche was the deadliest this season and that the weather conditions were good and the place was full. Among the dead are 2 park guides, which was full because it was Easter Sunday, the last day of the holiday.

What is an Avalanche?

Avalanche is the sliding or movement of accumulated masses of ice or snow that can move suddenly, being of strong or weak intensities. Because they are usually in mountains, the descent of this large mass of ice drags everything that comes in front of it, reaching speeds of 160 km/hr.

This phenomenon can occur due to winds, heat, passing skiers and even the propagation of sound. There are teams that monitor the mountains daily throughout the year. The accident that occurred this past Sunday was a fatality, as weather conditions and monitoring indicated that there was safety for the practice of sports on site.

Featured Photo: Mountain in the French Alps with an avalanche hazard sign. Reproduction/Twitter;