17 September 2015. Seven people have been killed this Tuesday, 15 September, by an avalanche in the French Alps.
Three groups of roped climbers, were swept away, while trying to attempt the Dôme de Neige des Ecrins. Seven of them died, and one escaped only injured. The PGHM have sad that 4 of the victims were from Germany and 2 from Czech Republic. They were born between 1964 and 1976 , one person remains unknown.
The only survivor, is a German women, 44, who suffered a severe femur fracture.
The avalanche struck at around midday at the Dôme de Neige in the Alps’ Massif des Écrins, an easily accessible 4,000m mountain very popular with climbers, as it does not require advanced technical skills.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Christian Flagella, supposes the catastrophe had been caused by a wind slab, which actually triggered the avalanche.
At around 11.50, the staff at a nearby mountain refuge alerted authorities to the avalanche.Three helicopters, 11 police, two doctors and search dogs were dispatched in the rescue effort.
This is considered to be the deadliest accident so far this year. In April 2015, two other Austrians skiers and an Italian were carried away by an avalanche in the Col Émile Pic, Pelvoux (French Alpes).
None of the victims were equipped with RECCO or transceivers.
