the Avalanche occurred at 14.15 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon in Crans-Montana in Valaiskantonen, and crossed to a selected skidpist.
Crans-Montana kommunordförande Nicolas Féraud said for the swiss newspapers that the ten–twelve people are feared to be under the snow is, but he is not sure of the number, and that it may well rise.
“We are in shock and we hope for a happy ending for these people,” says Féraud to Le Nouvelliste.
Le Temps to publish a picture of the avalanche, which shows how the skiers taken off their skis to try to assist them buried. Police confirm that several people have been buried by the avalanche, but has not any exact number on how many have been affected.
Emergency services are at the site where the avalanche occurred, according to the police the AFP news agency. Nicolas Féraud tells Le Temps that the military also has been called in to support the rescue operation.
located at 3,000 metres of altitude. The avalanche is unusual as it met with a marked ski trails, unlike most avalanches that is triggered when skiing in the powder snow off the pistes. Snow is reported to have covered 300-400 meters of the ski track. The rescue operation is being hampered by the hard-packed snow, according to Le Nouvelliste.
A person on site said to the newspaper that several helicopters participating in the operation, and to hundpatruller have started to look in the snow. Military personnel who find themselves in the locality have begun to block the slopes and to evacuate skiers.
the Swiss ski resorts have more visitors than usual during the week because many students have off from school.
the Swedish ministry of foreign affairs is in contact with the swiss authorities, but had at 17 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, no information about the affected swedes.
Read more: at Least ten dead after avalanches in the Alps
