Authorities checking for any Israeli casualties in French Alps avalanche

The ski resort later said no-one was killed in the avalanche.

Deadly avalanche at ski station in Tignes, France on Feb. 13, 2017 (credit: REUTERS)
The Israeli Embassy in Paris was checking with French authorities whether any Israeli nationals were caught in an avalanche at a ski resort in the Alps on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said.
Many skiers were swept away by the avalanche at Tignes ski resort in the French Alps, first aid workers told Reuters, although it was not immediately clear if there were any victims.
The ski station later said no-one was killed in the avalanche.
"Several skiers have been shaken up and taken care of by resort personnel. Emergency staff were deployed immediately. After the search operations, there are no victims to report," a statement from the resort said.

The avalanche came down at about 10 a.m. in the Val Claret area of the resort, near a relatively easy "blue" slope, a local emergency services spokesman said.

The vast Tignes ski area was entirely closed and skiers were evacuated by resort staff and police.

Rescue conditions were difficult because of fog which made it impossible for emergency workers from outside the resort to get there by helicopter. They had to come by road instead.

The avalanche risk was high on Tuesday at four on a scale of five.

Four people were killed in an avalanche at Tignes on Feb. 13, local authorities said.
This is a developing story.