Overview
- Employers alerted authorities on Monday when the women failed to appear at work, and their car was found at a ski-touring trailhead.
- The Dragon 74 helicopter conducted an aerial search with personnel from GMSP, PGHM and SMUR on board.
- Rescuers homed in on transceiver signals and recovered the bodies buried approximately 50 cm and 1.5 m under the snow.
- Prosecutors in Thonon-les-Bains have opened a judicial inquiry to establish the circumstances of the avalanche.
- Avalanche danger in the sector was rated 3 out of 5, with rescue services urging caution due to an unstable snowpack and recent heavy snowfall.