Posted on: 2025-03-21 17:38:15 by editor
Avalanche Fatality Above Villaroger, Savoie
An avalanche has struck above the commune of Villaroger near the les Arcs ski area in Savoie on Friday, March 21, claiming the life of one skier. According to a press release from the Savoie Prefecture, five people were skiing off-piste on the east side of the Grand Col towards Villaroger when they were caught in the avalanche. Four other skiers managed to escape unharmed. It appears that it was a natural snow slide that started above the skiers on the east face of the Aiguille Rouge.
The avalanche occurred around midday outside the marked ski area. Witnesses immediately alerted emergency services. Rescue teams from the Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM) of Savoie, along with a doctor from the emergency medical service (SAMU), quickly arrived on the scene. The PGHM confirmed that the group were properly equipped with avalanche rescue gear.
The Savoie Prefecture also highlighted the current avalanche conditions in the region. The avalanche risk is rated at 2 out of 5 (limited risk) across several massifs, including Haute-Tarentaise, Vanoise, Beaufortain, Maurienne, Haute-Maurienne, and Aravis. In the Haute-Maurienne area specifically, the risk is slightly higher, at 3 out of 5.
- Spontaneous Avalanches: Small wet snow avalanches are possible, particularly on steep, sun-warmed slopes (East, West, South). Typically small (Size 1), though medium-sized avalanches (Size 2) are occasionally possible.
- Triggered Avalanches: Generally unlikely, but localized wet snow slides may be triggered by skiers, especially on very steep terrain.
- Snowpack Stability: Potential instability due to wet snow and ground-level slides, especially on smooth, grassy slopes.
Authorities are urging all backcountry and off-piste skiers to exercise caution, consult avalanche forecasts before heading out, and avoid risky terrain during periods of instability.
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