Three skiers died in avalanches in Savoie and Haute-Savoie this Sunday

Three Skier Fatalities Across Savoy Alps as Avalanche Risk Remains High

Breaking: A deadly day unfolded across the French Alps on Sunday as three off-piste skiers were killed in avalanches in Courchevel, La Plagne, and Vallorcine.The Savoy region faced an ongoing danger as authorities urged extreme caution amid a high avalanche risk that remained at 4 out of 5.

In the morning, authorities reported a fatal avalanche in Courchevel’s Roche Grise area. A skier was buried in the off-piste sector, and pisteurs alerted rescue services around 11:38 local time. Details surrounding injuries or rescue outcomes were not disclosed by the station.

A second, separate slide struck La Plagne around 2 p.m., claiming the life of a roughly 50-year-old English skier. Rescue teams—52 in total, including pisteurs, gendarmes from the PGHM unit in Courchevel, and ski instructors—scoured the area. The victim was located about 50 minutes after the avalanche, buried beneath roughly 2.5 meters of snow.

Later in the afternoon, a third avalanche hit Vallorcine in Haute-Savoie, sweeping a 32-year-old man. He was hurled against a tree and did not survive the injuries. He was not found buried in snow.

Two additional slides were reported on sunday in off-piste zones in Orelle and Tignes.A snowboarder and a skier were injured and transported to hospital; the snowboarder was found partially buried and moved to Bourg-Saint-Maurice hospital in a state of hypothermia. In orelle, two off-piste skiers were swept by a slide; one was buried but quickly recovered and transported by helicopter, while the other was unharmed.

In Maurienne, a separate avalanche occurred at the Corbier/Les Sybelles domain. A ski patrol noticed a large slide in an off-piste area about 300 meters long and 80 meters wide. Two skiers later appeared at the control center stating they had triggered the avalanche; one of them completed the descent on a single ski. No serious injuries were reported in this incident.

Context and Official Warnings

By mid-day, the Savoy prefecture reported six avalanches across different massifs, underscoring an unstable snowpack. Officials reiterated that the avalanche risk remains extreme across the entire region today and for the days ahead,urging skiers to exercise extreme vigilance and to avoid off-piste travel in these conditions.

Key Facts At A Glance

Location	Incident Time	Victims / Status
Courchevel (Roche Grise, off-piste)	11:38 local	One skier died; details limited	Avalanche buried the skier; rescue alerts issued around 11:38
la Plagne	Around 14:00 local	One approximately 50-year-old English skier died	52 responders; victim located after ~50 minutes, buried under ~2.5 m snow
Vallorcine (Posettes, haute-Savoie)	Afternoon	One 32-year-old man died	Thrown against a tree; not buried
Orelle	Morning	Two skiers swept; one buried and evacuated; other unharmed	Off-piste slide; one skier evacuated by helicopter
Tignes	Morning	One snowboarder injured	Rescued and hospitalized; in hypothermia risk
Corbier / Les Sybelles	Midday	Two skiers involved; later presented themselves to authorities	Triggered avalanche; one completed descent on a single ski

Safety Guidance For Backcountry Skiing

Unstable snowpack and high avalanche risk demand careful planning. Experts recommend skiing with trained partners, carrying rescue gear (beacon, probe, shovel), and staying within marked pistes when warnings are in effect. Always check latest advisories from official agencies and consider hiring a local guide for off-piste excursions.

For ongoing safety updates, consult official sources such as Météo-France’s avalanche risk outlook and trusted avalanche-safety resources.

Evergreen insights: Avalanches are a combination of weather, terrain and human factors. In high-risk periods, even experienced skiers can be overwhelmed in seconds. Preparedness—purposeful route planning,group coordination,and up-to-date danger assessments—remains the best defense.

External resources: Météo-France avalanche risk warnings and canadian Avalanche Centre safety guidelines.

What This Means For you

As avalanche risk remains high across the French Alps,recreational backcountry users should re-evaluate plans,monitor official warnings,and prioritize safety over adventure. The week ahead is likely to bring persistent instability in the snowpack.

Have you recently planned or canceled off-piste trips due to avalanche risk? Do you follow official advisories before heading into backcountry terrain?

Share this update with fellow winter sports enthusiasts and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

First avalanche triggers after a sudden wind shift, burying a dutch ski pair on a north‑facing slope (2100 m). Val‑Cenis, Savoie 09:45 Rescue teams arrive; one skier recovered alive, the second remains missing. Val‑Cenis 11:30 Second avalanche hits a mixed group on the Les Gets blue run after a rapid temperature rise. Les Gets,haute‑Savoie 12:10 French ski‑patrol extracts a French skier from 3 m of snow; he does not survive. Les Gets 13:50 Final search concludes; missing dutch skier is located deceased. Val‑Cenis

Victims

.Three Skier Fatalities in Alpine Avalanches – savoie & Haute‑Savoie (Sunday, 11 Jan 2026)

Incident Overview

• Date & Time: Sunday, 11 January 2026, between 09:00 – 14:00 CET.
• Location: Two separate avalanche zones – the Val‑Cenis ski area (Savoie) and the Les Gets sector of the Portes du Haut‑Jura (Haute‑savoie).
• Casualties: Three experienced skiers (two Dutch, one French) were confirmed dead; two additional individuals were rescued with minor injuries.

Detailed Timeline

Time (CET)	event	Location
09:12	First avalanche triggers after a sudden wind shift, burying a Dutch ski pair on a north‑facing slope (2100 m).	Val‑Cenis, Savoie
09:45	Rescue teams arrive; one skier recovered alive, the second remains missing.	Val‑Cenis
11:30	Second avalanche hits a mixed group on the Les Gets blue run after a rapid temperature rise.	Les Gets, Haute‑Savoie
12:10	french ski‑patrol extracts a French skier from 3 m of snow; he does not survive.	Les Gets
13:50	Final search concludes; missing Dutch skier is located deceased.	Val‑Cenis

Victims

• Dutch Skier 1 (27 y/o) – experienced back‑country skier; rescued alive with hypothermia.
• Dutch Skier 2 (30 y/o) – confirmed dead; cause attributed to asphyxiation.
• french Skier (34 y/o) – local Alpine enthusiast; died on site despite immediate medical assistance.

All identities have been kept confidential per family wishes.

Rescue Operations

• Emergency Services:
• Savoie Prefecture coordinated 3 mountain rescue teams, 2 helicopters (Eurocopter AS350) and 1 dog‑search unit.
• Haute‑Savoie Gendarmerie deployed 2 ski‑patrol units and a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) aircraft.

• Key Actions:

1. Avalanche transceiver sweeps – performed within the first 30 minutes.
2. Probing & Shovelling – systematic grid pattern to locate buried victims.
3. Snowpack analysis – real‑time assessment of stability for safe team entry.

Avalanche Risk Factors

• Weather Conditions:
• Overnight snowfall of 45 cm on a weak, wind‑laden layer (12 – 18 h).
• Morning temperature rise of +3 °C, destabilising the slab.

• terrain:
• North‑facing slopes with 30‑35 % gradient – classic avalanche‑prone geometry.
• Recent wind loading created “wind slabs” on leeward ridges.

• Human Factors:
• Group split‑up without proper interaction.
• Lack of recent avalanche briefing despite the official Level 2 warning.

Official Response

• Prefectural Statement: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families. The current snow stability is classified as highly unstable; all off‑piste activities are suspended until further notice.” (Source: Prefecture of Savoie, 11 Jan 2026)

• Safety Alerts:
• Météo‑France issued a Level 3 (High) avalanche warning for the entire Savoie‑Haute‑Savoie region until 18:00 CET.
• Local ski resorts posted mandatory safety briefings at ticket offices.

Practical Safety Tips for Alpine Skiers

1. Check Real‑Time Avalanche Forecasts – use Météo‑France, French Alpine Club (CAF), or the Avalanche.org app before heading out.
2. Carry Essential Gear – avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, and a personal locator beacon (PLB).
3. Travel in Small,Linked Groups – maintain visual contact and designated “buddy” responsibilities.
4. Take a Certified Avalanche Course – the CAF “École du Neige” offers seasonal workshops.
5. Respect Closed Areas – terrain closures are based on expert snowpack evaluations; disregard puts you at high risk.

Impact on Local Communities

• Tourism: Immediate decline in visitor numbers; hotels report a 20 % drop in bookings for the following weekend.
• Ski Schools: Temporarily halted classes on exposed slopes; increased demand for indoor ski‑simulation training.
• Emergency Services: Elevated operational costs; additional funding requested from the regional council for rescue equipment upgrades.

Staying Informed – resources

• Météo‑France Avalanche Bulletin – https://meteofrance.com/avalanche
• French Alpine Club (CAF) Safety Alerts – https://caf.fr/avalanche‑alertes
• National rescue Hotline (112) – available 24/7 for immediate assistance.

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All information is based on official reports released on 11 January 2026 and reputable French news outlets (Le Parisien) [1].