A huge avalanche in the French Alps engulfed 20 school pupils and a teacher, it has been reported.
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Three people, including two teenagers from the same Lyon school, were killed while others suffered cardiac arrest.
Gilles Strappazzon, an official in the regional Isere government, told CNN affiliate BFMTV that at least two people – a Ukrainian national and a 14-year-old student – died in the avalanche. “The reason why the teacher, who is himself wounded, took them on to the closed run… is something the judicial inquiry will establish”.
The school group were skiing on the Bellecombe piste at the Deux Alpes ski resort, according to the BBC.
Local authorities have warned people to be aware of the high avalanche risk in the area at the moment.
The conditions for skiing and hiking have been quite hard in the area because of the heavy snowfall that has been seen in recent days. “The fresh snow didn’t stick enough”.
Letang added that the group should have been “properly equipped” with a probe, a shovel and an avalanche transceiver for finding people or equipment buried under snow.
According to initial reports by witnesses, the students were skiing on a ski slope that had been closed since the beginning of the season due to lack of snow.
Jean-Paul Bonnetain said that the group leader “had taken the initiative” to lead the school group onto this piste.
Students and friends have been placing candles and flowers at Saint-Exupery school, the school the two dead students were from.
An interior ministry statement said one person had also been gravely injured. The avalanche struck on a closed slope.
The search continues for one missing skier.
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Dozens die each year in avalanches in France’s popular ski resorts.
