French Alps avalanche: At least three people killed while hiking in national park

Search for further victims called off, say local media

Bonneval-sur-Arc in winter

(Wikimedia/BusterBrown)

Three hiking skiers have died in an avalanche in the French Alps.

It reportedly happened near Bonneval-sur-Arc in the Vanoise national park.

According to Le Dauphine, only three people were caught up in the snow-slide. Gabriel Blanc, mayor of Bonneval-sur-Arc, told the site the search for survivors was over.

He said: "We know from a reliable source that they were only three."

Other French media reports suggested a mix of recent rain and snow, alongside milder temperatures, had weakened the packed snow on the ground in the area.

The Savoie prefecture said the avalanche struck at about noon on Tuesday. Local media said the victims included two men and a woman.