Three Skiers Killed In Avalanche In France's Val d'Isere Resort

An avalanche killed three off-piste skiers, including two Britons, in the French Alps on Friday, prosecutors said a day after several ski resorts shut down due to the risk of snowslides. 

The avalanche in Val d'Isere swept away six skiers, killing one French national and the two Britons, prosecutor Benoit Bachelet said. A third British citizen suffered minor injuries, he added.

Emergency services responded quickly but



could not prevent the deaths, a resort official said, noting that all of the victims had avalanche transceivers. 

There have now been at least 25 avalanche deaths in France this winter season, with the majority occurring since January. 

The deaths followed a rare, day-long red alert across the southeastern Savoie region on Thursday -- a danger level issued only twice before since the system was introduced 25 years ago.