Three skiers including two 14-year-old French schoolchildren and one Ukranian tourist have been reported dead after they were struck by an avalanche at a ski resort in the French Alps this week.
The trio were part of a group of 10 experienced young skiers on a school excursion.
They were exploring a closed piste in the Les Deux Alpes area when the avalanche struck.
Sixty rescuers were sent out with dogs and four helicopters to assist in the search and rescue of the class.
In addition to the three that were killed, another three in the group were seriously injured – two students were found in cardiac arrest while the teacher was unconscious, BBC reported.
All injured skiers were transferred to a hospital in Grenoble where they are receiving treatment.
France’s President, Francois Hollande, sent his sincerest condolences to the victims’ families, while France’s Education Minister is expected to visit Lyon – where the students are based – this week.
According to reports, the Bellecombe piste is situated on an icy north-facing side mountain and is rated as one of the most difficult.
A manager of Les Deux Alpes said the piste had been closed since the start of the ski season due to a lack of snow. However, large quantities of snow had fallen over recent days, raising the risk of avalanches.
