Updated | No casualties after French Alps resort struck by avalanche
French authorities have said there were no fatalities after an avalanche hit a ski slope in the popular French resort of Tignes
Specialist French mountain police were called out to the Tignes resort in the Alps
Authorities have confirmed that there were no victims in an avalanche that struck the French Alps ski resort of Tignes on Tuesday morning.
Specialist French mountain police were called out to the Tignes resort in the Alps after an avalanche struck just after 10:00am on the medium level blue ski slope called "Carline" in the Tignes Val Claret area.
Initial reports had claimed that “several people” had been swept away but two hours after the avalanche, the local prefecture announced rescuers had tested the snowfall and there were no victims.
"Several skiers have been shaken up and taken care of by resort personnel. Emergency staff were deployed immediately. After the search operations, there are no victims to report," the resort confirmed in a statement.
A major rescue operation had been called and the ski station has been closed while all staff were sent to the affected area to search for survivors. However, the rescue operation was impeded by the lack of visibility which has prevented rescue teams from sending helicopters to the affected area.
The avalanche risk at Tignes was said to be four on a scale of five, and part of the resort had been closed to skiers.
Last month four snowboarders were killed when an avalanche hit an off-piste area of the same resort.
