A Russian skier has been killed by an avalanche this afternoon at Valfréjus in the Maurienne area in the Northern French Alps.

A 46 Canadian ski tourer was killed by an avalanche near the ski resort of Ste Foy Taretaise in the Savoie department of the French Alps on Friday (20/1).

Two climbers have been killed by an avalanche in the North-East couloir of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre around 8h00 today.

A 24 year old solo ski tourer has been killed by an avalanche in the Brévent range near the aiguillette des Houches. The alarm was given when he failed to turn up for a meeting in the early afternoon.

An avalanche near Ceillac in the Hautes Alpes yesterday has left one dead and two injured.

A ski tourer has been killed by a large avalanche this morning at 10h00 in the Grand Crêt bowl (2100 meters) at la Clusaz in the Haute-Savoie. There were about 50 ski tourers in the bowl at the time.

Five soldiers have been killed by an avalanche in Valfréjus in the Haute-Maurienne, six other members of the group were injured.

An avalanche has killed 3 people on the closed Bellecombes piste at les Deux Alpes this afternoon. The avalanche risk was 3/5 (Considerable) at the time.

Tuesday 5th January.

With the avalanche risk between 4 and 3 today in the Savoyard ski resort of Val d'Isere the snow conditions continue to be very unstable.