Second avalanche hits search for trapped skiers
Source: Agencies |
January 5, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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SNOW and fog were hampering a search in the Swiss Alps yesterday for three people believed trapped after avalanches killed at least four skiers and a rescue doctor, officials said.
Two of the avalanches occurred in Diemtig Valley on Sunday, the first hitting a group of skiers, the second the rescuers who came to their aid. A third avalanche buried two skiers near Switzerland's borders with France and Italy on Sunday.
In Diemtig Valley, about 40 kilometers south of the capital, Bern, eight people were pulled from the snow alive, but three - two skiers and the rescue doctor - later died in the hospital from their injuries, police spokeswoman Ursula Stauffer said. Another skier was recovered dead.
"Rescuers haven't been able to resume their search today because the helicopter can't get close to the site due to the bad weather," she said.
She said the three missing skiers were part of a large group skiing off-piste in the Chummli area of the Diemtig Valley when an avalanche buried one member of the party around midday on Sunday. Rescuers who arrived to help the skiers about half an hour later were hit by a second avalanche at the same spot, said Stauffer. Officials launched a massive operation involving eight helicopters and 100 rescuers in an attempt to save their colleagues and the missing skiers.
Bernhard Scherz, who took part in the rescue, said it appeared the first avalanche was caused by skiers failing to keep a safe distance from each other. He said one of those recovered alive from the avalanche was an Englishman who had been buried under 2.5 meters of snow. But an official at the British Embassy said British citizens weren't known to have been injured or killed.
Separately, two skiers were buried in Sunday's avalanche near the town of Verbier. One skier was killed, but his guide was rescued, police said.
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