This weekend saw the season start with the opening of Val Thorens and Val d'Isere and also the first avalanche incidents of the season as up to 50cm of fresh snow fell at altitude in the Western an

Sixteen people have been killed in the Alps over the weekend.

The so called "Doctor Vertical", 58 year old Emmanuel Cauchy has been killed by an avalanche this morning near the Pointe Alphonse-Favre (2788 meters) in the Aiguilles Rouges near Chamonix.

Two Grenoble based ski tourers have been killed by an avalanche late this afternoon on the west side of the Belle Plinier (3086m) close to the Italian border.

A solo ski tourer has been killed in the Bauges mountain range north of Chambery today. The rescue services were notified around midday when the 56 year old failed to return home.

Two ski tourers were surprised by an avalanche earlier today as they were climbing towards the Tête de Vautisse (3156 meters) in the Ecrins mountain range.

A ski tourer has been killed, and another severely injured in an avalanche on the Chamechaude peak close to Grenoble in the Chartreuse mountain range.

Two piste patrollers who were working in an off piste sector above the Sarenne run, at the foot of the Pic Blanc, were caught by an avalanche yesterday morning at 10h30.

9 people have died and three are missing tonight following a series of avalanches in the French Alps and Pyrenees. A number of other skiers have had lucky escapes.

Five Spanish skiers were hit by an avalanche around midday near the Aragnouet-Bielsa tunnel on the south face of the Pic de Marioules. Two of the group were buried under 4 meters of snow.