Rare on-piste avalanche turns deadly in Switzerland

An avalanche killed at least one and injured several others on Tuesday at a popular ski resort in Switzerland.

The event caught skiers off guard in Crans-Montana, as it occurred on a frequently used slope in an area that was deemed low for avalanche risk, according to the BBC.

Witnesses said that more than four skiers were in the area at the time of the avalanche, sparking fears that many people remained buried beneath the snow.

Hundreds of people joined search-and-rescue efforts that lasted into early Wednesday morning before being called off after no additional people were reported missing.

Helicopters and a dozen search dogs assisted in the search, according to the Associated Press.

This event is quite rare, as most deadly avalanches occur when skiers venture off-piste into areas where snow is not managed and that are at a higher risk for avalanches.

Local authorities continued to investigate the cause of avalanche, with possibilities ranging from weather conditions to skier behavior.

The avalanche raises concerns ahead of a women’s World Cup event set to take place this weekend at Crans-Montana.

At this time, the avalanche is not expected to affect the event or training runs, which are scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Dry weather is expected across the region in the coming days.

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