The avalanche of wet snow, which killed a Frenchman living in Switzerland, occurred on Thursday May 9 shortly after 2 p.m., above Lake Oeschinen.
A 32-year-old Frenchman living in Switzerland was killed by an avalanche this Thursday, May 9 in the center of the Alpine country, police in the canton of Bern said. Four other people were injured and taken to hospital, a press release said. The French victim, whose identity was not given, was domiciled in the canton of Vaud, in western Switzerland.
The wet snow avalanche, also called a slab avalanche, was triggered shortly after 2 p.m. above Lake Oeschinen. This mountain lake with turquoise waters is nestled in a spectacular mountain cirque near Kandersteg and a popular tourist destination.
Twenty deaths in Switzerland since October
According to Keystone-ATS, a Swiss press agency, very extensive relief efforts were mobilized, including three Rega helicopters, Swiss Alpine Rescue, a civil helicopter, avalanche dogs, mountain specialists and other services. of the Bernese cantonal police.
It considers that the danger of avalanches is currently permanent in the mountains and recommends consulting the forecasts before going hiking.
This new death brings to 20 the total number of deaths caused by an avalanche since the start of the hydrological season, according to statistics from the Institute for the Study of Snow and Avalanches (SLF). The hydrological season runs from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
Most read
#Swiss
