Avalanche kills 3 skiers in French Alps

The group was swept away by an avalanche after venturing off piste in the Val d’Isere area. Heavy snowfall brought by storm Nils has increased the avalanche risk in some French ski resorts.

Avalanche kills 3 skiers in French Alps

The group was swept away by an avalanche after venturing off piste in the Val d’Isere area. Heavy snowfall brought by storm Nils has increased the avalanche risk in some French ski resorts.

Some ski resorts in the region closed their slopes due to the heightened risk of avalanches

Three skiers died in the French Alps after they went off piste and were caught in an avalanche, authorities said Friday.

They were part of a group of six that went into the mountains with a ski instructor in the Val d’Isere area in southeastern France.

The identities and nationalities of the victims were not immediately known.

According to local authorities, the group had mandatory safety equipment with them but set off despite a warning of increased avalanche risk.

Storm Nils brought heavy snow to the French Alps this week, prompting some ski resorts to close their slopes entirely on Thursday. Many ski areas in the region remained under the second-highest avalanche warning level on Friday.

The Val d’Isere municipality warned all skiers to stay on marked slopes and follow safety recommendations given the heightened danger.