A tragic avalanche in Val d'Isère, France, has resulted in the deaths of three skiers. The incident occurred on Friday morning, February 13, 2026, in the Vallee du Manchet area, a popular off-piste location between the Solaise and Bellevarde massifs, according to Planetski.eu.
The avalanche struck at approximately 11:30 AM, impacting a group of five skiers, including a guide, as well as another individual skiing in the area. All the skiers were equipped with avalanche transceivers, which aided rescue services in their search and recovery efforts.
According to Planetski.eu, the avalanche risk was rated as 4 out of 5, indicating a 'high' risk at the time of the incident, following recent heavy snowfall.
Key details from the incident:
- The avalanche occurred off-piste in the Vallee du Manchet area.
- A group of five skiers and one other individual were caught in the slide.
- All skiers were equipped with avalanche transceivers.
- The avalanche risk was high (4/5).
Rescue services were quickly on the scene and recovered the bodies of the three victims. Two were found rapidly, with the third located in a stream at the bottom of the avalanche, Planetski.eu reports. One of the deceased was confirmed to be French; the nationalities of the other two victims have not yet been released.
Planetski.eu reports that authorities are urging extreme caution in the backcountry, as many ski areas remain either partially or fully closed due to the elevated avalanche risk following recent heavy snowfall. A Planetski.eu reader and experienced instructor in Val d'Isere stated that skiing in the area during these conditions was "foolhardy".
The emergency services have expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
