About a dozen people may have been buried following an avalanche Tuesday at a popular Swiss Alps ski resort.

Rescuers were searching for people with the aid of dogs and helicopters, the BBC reported. The avalanche happened at the Crans-Montana resort in southern Valais.

Published reports say that the avalanche may have resulted from warmer weather in recent days. But avalanche risk warnings for the area had been set at a level of two out of five, the BBC said.

HIGH AVALANCHE RISK IN ALPS AMID HEAVY SNOW; 1 DEAD

A journalist who was at the scene posted a picture on Twitter of what appears to be the avalanche. A marked slope reportedly was affected.

Manager Michele Vizzino of the nearby La Violette restaurant, at the foot of the gondola heading up to the peak, told Associated Press that he heard the loud noise of the avalanche but didn't see it. He said it only left a "small trail" afterward.

Vizzino said such avalanches were rare in the area, known for its skiing. The police statement did not specify whether the people buried under the snow were skiers.

The slopes were busier this week because of school breaks. Philippe Magistretti, president of the resort's ski lift company, told the Reuters news agency that the Army was assisting in the search and rescue effort.

"About 100 rescue workers are on the site," he said to Reuters.

A local newspaper, Le Nouvelliste, quoted the head of Crans-Montana's municipal government, Nicolas Feraud, as estimating that "between 10 and 12 people" remained buried under the snow.

There was no official confirmation of any deaths.

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"We are shocked and hope for good news about these people," Nicolas Feraud was quoted as telling local reporters.

The affected area covers the resort's highest ski track, which is almost 10,000 feet high.

MSN.com said that usually most deadly avalanches in Switzerland occur in places that are away from conventional ski runs. But Tuesday's avalanche hit a designated ski track.</s>Rescue crews work on the avalanche site in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland on February 19, 2019 (Epa Keystone / Anthony Anex)

One of the people rescued from an avalanche at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana died in the hospital overnight. Three other people were injured by the huge avalanche that hit a ski slope on Tuesday. Rescuers suspended a coordinated search on Wednesday morning.

The man who died was a 34-year-old French ski patroller who had worked since 2010 at the Swiss resort, police said. When the avalanche hit the piste, he had been helping an injured skier.



On Tuesday, a huge avalanche swept down the mountain at an altitude of 2,500 metres, just below the Plaine-Morte Glacier, and hit the popular Kandahar ski slope at 2.20pm at a spot known as “Passage du Major”.



In all, four people were quickly pulled from the snow and flown by helicopter to Sion Hospital. Three had light injuries; the French ski patroller later died overnight from his serious injuries.



Rescuers continued working on Tuesday night above the resort in canton Valais to try to find skiers who might have been trapped in the avalanche. Witnesses had told police that there could be more people under the snow.



This video by Swiss public radio, RTS, shows the extent of the avalanche. The police said it measured over 840 metres long and 100 metres wide and spread over the slope for about 400 metres.

External Content Crans-Montana avalanche video Plusieurs personnes auraient été ensevelies par une avalanche sur une piste de ski de Crans-Montana. Les secours sont sur place.#video pic.twitter.com/tQJIoC9RyX — RTSinfo (@RTSinfo) February 19, 2019

Rescue services were immediately on the spot and the search continues. Eight helicopters and more than 240 police and rescue workers are involved in the emergency operation, including army officers who were there to help prepare for two Women's Alpine Ski World Cup races next weekend.

A report by the Valais-based Le Nouvelliste newspaper quoted the commune's president Nicolas Feraud as saying 10 to 12 people were believed to be trapped in the snow.

Some 240 people were involved in the rescue operation

(Kantonspolizei Wallis)

“We heard a loud noise. After, there was a huge avalanche. I have never seen a 1.5-metre-4 metre high avalanche in my life. It was just impressive. We were almost left behind too. It was a close call,” Martial, a 40-year-old skier, told 20Minutes news site.

According to the local avalanche bulletin, the avalanche danger was level 2 (moderate) on a scale of 1-5 on Tuesday. The accident came as warm temperatures over the past week began melting heavy snow and coincided with school holidays in some cantons.

+ What are the real risks from avalanches?

The cause of the avalanche is unclear and an investigation has been opened. The police said it had either been set off by skiers or by the weather conditions. Avalanches that hit resort ski slopes are rare. According to the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davosexternal link, since 1996 there have been five similar accidents where an avalanche hit a resort slope, resulting in a total of five deaths.

Crans-Montana President Nicolas Féraud told Le Nouvelliste: "We are in shock and we hope for a positive outcome for these people.”

The Valais police has opened an emergency hotline for families urgently seeking information 00 41 848 112 117.

External Content Crans-Montana

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SWI swissinfo.ch on Instagram SWI swissinfo.ch on Instagram</s>CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland: A French ski patroller has died from injuries after being caught in an avalanche in Switzerland, but rescuers have called off their search after finding no more casualties on the piste in Crans-Montana, police said on Wednesday (Feb 20).

After a large avalanche spilled onto the piste on Tuesday, four people were pulled from the snow and taken to Sion hospital, including one victim in a critical condition.

"The person who was seriously injured died during the night in Sion hospital. He was a French ski patroller aged 34," Valais cantonal police said in a statement.

Eight helicopters, 12 dogs and more than 240 police, rescuers and soldiers had worked to find any more casualties as night fell after witnesses had reported more people could be buried.

"The search continued all night and was halted this morning. It will resume if the situation requires. No disappearance has been signalled," police said.</s>Avalanche hits skiers at Swiss resort; 4 rescued so far

GENEVA (AP) — An afternoon avalanche swept up skiers as it rumbled across a slope at a popular Swiss Alps ski resort Tuesday, sparking a hurried search that rescued four people and extended into the night for others who might still be buried, authorities said.

Nearly 250 rescue workers, medical team members, police officers and military personnel backed by eight helicopters and a dozen search dogs were deployed after the avalanche on Plaine Morte, a mountain in the town of Crans-Montana, officials said.

One person was in critical condition after being extracted from the chunky snow that spilled over the Kandahar ski slope, Commander Christian Varone of the Valais regional police said. Three others were "superficially" injured, Varone said.

Roughly half of the 840-meter-long (920-yard) avalanche made a direct hit across the ski slope, he said.

"Witnesses told us other people could be buried under the layer of snow. For that reason, we are continuing our search with considerable means," Varone said.

He did not elaborate or take questions from reporters.

"What's important for the intervention teams is that we do everything we can to verify whether or not people remain buried under the avalanche. That's our main priority," he said. "The second is to take care of the families of the injured the best that we can."

Valais police spokesman Steve Leger explained later by phone that police were not providing estimates of how many people might be trapped under the snow.

An alarm sounded shortly before 2:30 p.m., minutes after the avalanche hit the slope at Crans-Montana, which is located 180 milometers (114 miles) east of Geneva, resort operator CMA said.

Valais prosecutor Catherine Seppey said authorities were investigating what triggered the avalanche, citing weather conditions or skier behavior as possibilities.

Switzerland's Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research had put the risk of an avalanche in the area at level 2, which is relatively low on its 5-point scale.

Michele Vizzino, who manages the La Violette restaurant near the gondola that runs up to the peak, said he heard the avalanche but didn't see it. Video from the site showed skiers on the slopes above a trail of lumpy snow after the avalanche.

The avalanche comes ahead of a weekend women's World Cup event involving top skiers such as Switzerland's Lara Gut on the Mont Lachaux run at Crans-Montana.

Event spokesman Hugo Steinegger said two companies of Swiss military forces — totaling about 180 people — who had been deployed for the races were quickly dispatched to the avalanche site to help with the rescue.

He said the avalanche was not expected to affect the start of the event, which begins with training runs on Thursday.</s>CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland: Rescuers who worked all night to try to find skiers who might have been trapped in an avalanche in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana have called off the search after finding no more casualties, police said on Wednesday (Feb 20).

"The search continued all night and was halted this morning. It will resume if the situation requires. No disappearance has been signalled and the toll is four injured including one seriously," Valais police said in a statement.

After a large avalanche spilled onto a piste on Tuesday, four people were pulled from the snow and remain in Sion hospital being treated for their injuries, including one victim in a critical condition.</s>Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Several skiers have been buried under an avalanche in Switzerland, police said Tuesday.

The avalanche occurred at 2:15 p.m. local time at the Swiss mountain resort of Crans-Montana in the Plaine-Morte area, which is one of the resort's highest areas to ski, police said in a Tweet.

Rescuers have been on site to assist several people who have been buried in the snow, it added.

Ten to 12 people have been buried at the Kandahar slope spot called the "Passage du Major," with the avalanche covering the ski run for around 1,000 feet, Cras-Montana President Nicolas Feraud told Valais-based Le Nouvelliste newspaper.

"We are shocked and hope for a positive outcome for these people," Feraud added.

Emergency services have set up a hotline for families.

The avalanche danger Tuesday was on a level 2 on a scale of 1-5, a local avalanche bulletin said.</s>Terrifying footage shows the moment holidaymakers skied for their lives as an avalanche swept through a popular Swiss resort.

A Frenchman, 34, whose job was to check to safety of the slopes, died overnight after being injured in the avalanche.

Three others were rescued after being swept away as a torrent of snow swept through Plaine Morte, a glacier near the town of Crans-Montana.

Footage captured by one of the skiers on their GoPro shows the moments shortly before the avalanche crashed down from the top of the mountains, as skiers desperately tried to avoid being crushed.

Skiers are seen enjoying their time on the slopes just moments before the avalanches starts.

The person filming the moments leading up to the avalanche appear in no rush as they put on their gloves before making their way down the hill.

As they set off, a deep crash is heard in the background and the skier turns around, revealing a white cloud of snow hurtling towards them.

The person speeds up down the hill and seems to encourage others to do the same.

Steve Leger, a spokesman for the Valaid canton police department said: 'Unfortunately, overnight one of the four injured people died.'

Nearly 250 rescue workers , medics, police officers and military personnel took part in the search, backed by eight helicopters and a dozen search dogs.

Searches continued throughout the night but were halted on Wednesday morning.

The cause of the avalanche remains unclear. Nearly half of the 920-yard long avalanche made a direct hit across the ski slope.

Leger said one possible cause for the avalanche could have been triggered by the passage of a skier.

One witness told the paper that four helicopters were on scene alongside dogs which were helping to search the area.

The witness also claimed that four people had already been pulled from the snow-drift, but this was not confirmed by emergency services.

Video taken by reporter Laure Lugon Zugravu shows stunned skiiers gathered around a section of slope that has been covered with snow.

Rescue crews refused to say how many people could be buried because nobody in the disaster zone had been wearing avalanche detectors, making it impossible to know for sure.

'It could be 15 or it could be none,' one worker said.

Soldiers posted to the slope in advance of a skiing World Cup event due to take place there in the coming weeks also joined in the search.

Switzerland's Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research had put the risk of an avalanche in the area at level 2, which is relatively low on its 5-point scale.

The avalanche comes ahead of a weekend women's World Cup event involving top skiers such as Switzerland's Lara Gut on the Mont Lachaux run at Crans-Montana.

Authorities said the avalanche was not expected to affect the event, which begins with training runs on Thursday.</s>GENEVA: One person engulfed in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps has died, police said Wednesday (Feb 20), as rescue operations to find other possible victims were paused after an all-night search.

Four people had been reported as injured in the avalanche on Tuesday at the Crans-Montana ski station in southern Switzerland.

One of the wounded, a 34-year-old French national, has died, police in Valais canton said in a tweet.

"Searches that continued through the night have been stopped. They will resume if the situation requires," police added. No new victims were discovered overnight.

The avalanche hit during the early afternoon on a slope 2,600m up at Crans-Montana, which was busy with skiers during school holidays.

Swiss media said search efforts for the victims included sniffer dogs, four military helicopters and up to 250 rescue workers.

The avalanche was unusual in that it hit a designated ski slope, while the vast majority of deadly avalanches in the Alpine nation hit people skiing off-piste.</s>Swiss police say a 34-year-old Frenchman whose job was to check the safety of ski slopes has died overnight after being injured in an avalanche at a popular Alps ski resort.

The man was one of four injured people rescued after being swept away Tuesday by an avalanche that hit a slope on Plaine Morte, a glacier near the town of Crans-Montana.

Police in Valais also tweeted that an overnight search did not result in any more people being found. They said they continued searching all night but stopped Wednesday morning.

Police said they'll resume their search if required.

Nearly 250 rescue workers, medics, police officers and military personnel took part in the search, backed by eight helicopters and a dozen search dogs.</s>CRANS-MONTANA (Switzerland), Feb 20 — A major avalanche buried skiers on a busy slope of the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana yesterday, injuring four people including one whose life is in danger, but there are no known fatalities so far, officials said.

Eight helicopters, 12 dogs and more than 240 police, rescuers and soldiers, worked to find any more people enveloped in the snow as night fell.

“Rescuers arrived very quickly on the scene, they rescued four injured people including one whose life is in danger, and three were injured more superficially,” Valais cantonal police commander Christian Varone told a news conference.

“Witnesses told us there could be more people buried under the snow, that is why we are pursuing the search with considerable means.”

He said the avalanche was 840m long and 100m wide, with 400m of heavy snow hitting the piste.

Frederic Favre, head of the Valais department of police and justice, said no one was known to have been killed.

Earlier, the Nouvelliste, a local newspaper, quoted the commune’s president Nicolas Feraud as saying 10 to 12 people were believed to be trapped.

The avalanche, in mid-afternoon, came after a week of warmer temperatures began melting heavy snow. But the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research said the danger for the area had been only at level two on a scale of five on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Catherine Seppey said that an investigation had been opened. “There are two hypotheses. The first is that several skiers set off the avalanche. The second hypothesis is it was a spontaneous avalanche due to climatic conditions, and in that case it will be a question of determining responsibilities and problems of security,” she said.

Philippe Magistretti, president of the Crans-Montana ski lift company, told Reuters by telephone that army personnel who were in the resort had joined the rescue effort.

“The amount of snow is incredible, two metres deep and 300m long. It's a spring avalanche which is very compact,” the Nouvelliste quoted one unnamed rescue worker as saying. Rescue dogs had not found anyone during a first search, he added.

The avalanche coincided with school holidays in some cantons, including Geneva, as well as overseas. Britain’s Blackheath High School tweeted that all its students on a ski trip in the area were safe.

The resort is scheduled to host two World Cup women's races this weekend.

Marius Robyr, in charge of organising the races, was quoted in yesterday’s Tribune de Geneve, before the avalanche, as saying there was one to 1.5m of snow on La Nationale ski piste. He said it was closed to tourists ahead of the practice sessions and downhill and combined races.

“Our only ‘enemy’ is the sun,” he said. — Reuters
An avalanche at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland injures four, one seriously, with fears that up to a dozen skiers may have been hit according to witnesses. 240 rescuers including police and army search the affected piste area. No further victims are immediately found, or missing persons reported.