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Seven people die in avalanches in the French Alps

Two groups of walkers in the alpine Savoie region of eastern France were separately struck by avalanches on Saturday, when seven of the ramblers were killed and one saved by rescue services.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

Two avalanches in the French Alpine region of Savoie left seven people dead on Saturday, reports FRANCE 24.

Local authorities had already warned Friday of unstable snow formations given a recent falloff in temperatures.

The first avalanche occurred late morning at Valloire, a village close to the 2,642-metre (8,670 foot) Col du Galibier mountain, killing four local people aged between 42 and 76.

They were among a five-strong group of walkers one of whom was found safe and well by rescuers after two helicopters were scrambled.

The second avalanche claimed three lives early afternoon near the 3,779-metre Mont Pourri, near Les Arcs ski resort some 150 kilometres (91 miles) north-east of the first one, prefecture sources said.

Read more of this AFP report published by FRANCE 24.