An avalanche in Val-Cenis, Savoie, claimed the lives of four Norwegian ski tourers on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The avalanche struck in the late afternoon near the Col de Sollières, outside the ski resort area, following significant snowfall and unstable snow conditions.
Incident Overview
According to initial reports, a group of seven Norwegian ski tourers was caught in a massive avalanche in the Haute-Maurienne Valley, between Pointe de Cugne and Mont Froid, at an altitude of approximately 2,822 meters. Four skiers were completely buried under the snow. Three were found deceased on-site, while the fourth, a woman suffering from severe hypothermia and cardiac arrest, was airlifted to the Grenoble University Hospital. Despite emergency medical intervention, she succumbed to her injuries during transport.
Large slab avalanche over PWL (photo: PGHM)
Three other members of the group, who were only partially buried, survived without serious physical injuries. They have since been provided with medical and psychological support.
Rescue Efforts
Rescue teams from CRS Alpes, the Modane mountain rescue unit, and Briançon responders were deployed following an alert at around 16:30. Search operations were complicated by the scale of the avalanche and poor visibility. Avalanche transceivers (DVA) helped locate the victims quickly, but the sheer force and depth of the slide left little chance of survival for those fully buried.
Avalanche Conditions and Risk Factors
The avalanche risk in the region was at level 3 (considerable) on a scale of 5. In the 48 hours preceding the event, 60 cm of fresh snow had accumulated, exacerbated by wind transport, leading to the formation of unstable snow slabs. The affected slope, a northwest-facing incline, was particularly exposed to these conditions.
According to the latest avalanche bulletin, the snowpack was described as "highly unstable and treacherous," with a fragile persistent weak layer. The risk of human-triggered avalanches was high, especially on steep slopes above 2,000 meters, where slab fractures of up to 50 cm were possible. Warning signs such as "woumf" sounds, visible cracks in the snow, and difficult ski conditions indicated instability.
Wider Avalanche Risk in the Region
This incident adds to a series of deadly avalanches in the Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Pyrenees since Sunday. On Tuesday, a 55-year-old skier lost his life in an off-piste avalanche at Grands Montets. Earlier on Wednesday, a Swiss skier in her 30s was killed in an avalanche at Aiguillette des Posettes in Vallorcine. On Sunday two ski tourers were killed touring on a closed piste near the Col de Tourmalet. The rapid succession of fatal avalanches underscores the hazardous conditions in the French Alps at present. Earlier in the month Meteo France forecasters warned of a "terrifying avalanche situation" developing in the Haute-Maurienne area where this afternoon's avalanche occurred. The Data Avalanche site also noted large (size 4) avalanches on Tuesday
Safety Recommendations
Authorities urge extreme caution for backcountry skiers and mountaineers in the region. Given the recent snowfall and unstable conditions, skiers are advised to:
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by avalanches, even for experienced and well-equipped skiers.
Further Reading