TL;DR
Multiple avalanches in Val Thorens, France, have led to the closure of the ski area and left one person critically injured. Local authorities have raised the avalanche risk to its maximum level.
Val Thorens Faces Avalanche Crisis
Val Thorens ski resort in the French Alps has experienced a series of avalanches, resulting in one critical injury and the complete closure of the ski area. Local authorities have elevated the avalanche risk to the highest possible level, level 5 out of 5, following days of heavy snowfall.
The incident began early in the day when a person was buried under snow near the resort entrance. Emergency teams quickly responded, recovering the victim in cardiac arrest. The individual was transported to Grenoble hospital and remains in critical condition.
Four avalanches occurred in the morning, with two in Val Thorens and two in nearby Les Menuires. Weather experts described the event as an 'extreme weather-snowfall event', with over one metre of fresh snow accumulating at high elevations. In response, the ski area was immediately closed, with a gradual reopening planned for April 18, subject to weather conditions and safety assessments.
