News / EU

Three Italian skiers killed in Swiss Alps avalanche

Sunday, 22 February 2015 10:20 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 22 February 2015 10:20 AM ]

A helicopter of the Swiss civil defense takes off during the rescue operation near the Grand Saint-Bernard pass (AFP photo)

Three Italian skiers have been killed and two others injured after they were hit by a massive sheet of snow in the Swiss Alps, police say.

According to the police, the victims were on a skiing tour in an area known as “Death Valley” on the Grand Saint-Bernard pass in the Swiss Alps when the avalanche, measuring 80 meters across and up to 300 meters long was dislodged and swept them away around 1:00 pm (1200 GMT), on Saturday.

The accident happened at an altitude of around 2,300 meters and thick fog complicated the rescue operation, police said.

Jean-Marie Bornet, a spokesman for regional police in the canton of Valais, confirmed that two women and one man died in the accident, saying that one of the two survivors escaped with only minor injuries while the other was “undergoing resuscitation, so it's quite serious.”

Police said that about 30 rescue workers and several helicopters took part in the operation.

The Grand Saint-Bernard, at 2,459 meter high (8,100ft), is the lowest pass on the ridge between the Swiss Alps' two highest summits, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa.

According to Swiss news agency ATS, avalanches are taking a heavy toll in the Swiss Alps this winter season, having killed at least 24 people including Saturday’s deaths.

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Swiss Alps