Switzerland avalanche: Rescuers hunt for buried skiers in the Alps after disaster leaves four injured

A search and rescue mission is underway that includes dogs and several helicopters

At least four people have been left injured after an avalanche in a popular ski resort in the Swiss Alps, and reports indicate that as many as 10 people are still trapped.

Eight helicopters, 12 dogs and more than 240 police, rescuers and soldiers worked into the night to find any more people buried in the snow on a marked slope in Crans-Montana.

“Rescuers arrived very quickly on the scene, they rescued four injured people including one whose life is in danger, and three were injured more superficially,” Valais cantonal police commander Christian Varone told a news conference.

“Witnesses told us there could be more people buried under the snow, that is why we are pursuing the search with considerable means.”

“We are shocked and hope for good news about these people,” said Nicolas Feraud, president of Crans-Montana’s municipal government. He told local paper Le Nouvelliste he thought “between 10 and 12 people” could still be trapped.

He said the avalanche was 840 metres (yards) long and 100 metres wide, with 400 meters of heavy snow hitting the piste.

An investigation as been opened by the Valais Public Prosecutor to determine the cause of the avalanche.

The avalanche, in mid-afternoon, came after a week of warmer temperatures began melting heavy snow. But the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research said the danger for the area had been only at level two on a scale of five on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Catherine Seppey said that an investigation had been opened. “There are two hypotheses. The first is that several skiers set off the avalanche. The second hypothesis is it was a spontaneous avalanche due to climatic conditions, and in that case it will be a question of determining responsibilities and problems of security,” she said.

Philippe Magistretti, president of the Crans-Montana ski lift company, told Reuters by telephone that army personnel who were in the resort had joined the rescue effort.

“The amount of snow is incredible, two metres deep and 300 metres long. It’s a spring avalanche which is very compact,” the Nouvelliste quoted one unnamed rescue worker as saying. Rescue dogs had not found anyone during a first search, he added.

The avalanche coincided with school holidays in some cantons, including Geneva, as well as overseas. Britain’s Blackheath High School tweeted that all its students on a ski trip in the area were safe.

The resort is scheduled to host two World Cup women’s races this weekend.

Additional reporting by Reuters