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| Alps avalanche deaths: Police investigate teacher's role | Alps avalanche deaths: Police investigate teacher's role |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Investigators in the French Alps are examining why a teacher apparently took schoolchildren on to a closed ski run shortly before a deadly avalanche. | Investigators in the French Alps are examining why a teacher apparently took schoolchildren on to a closed ski run shortly before a deadly avalanche. |
| Two French students and a Ukrainian tourist were killed in the disaster in Les Deux Alpes area on Wednesday. | Two French students and a Ukrainian tourist were killed in the disaster in Les Deux Alpes area on Wednesday. |
| Three others - two pupils and the teacher - were injured. | Three others - two pupils and the teacher - were injured. |
| Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem promised an investigation would "throw all light" on the circumstances of the tragedy. | Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem promised an investigation would "throw all light" on the circumstances of the tragedy. |
| The two who died were a boy of 14 and a 16-year-old girl from Saint-Exupery high school in Lyon. | The two who died were a boy of 14 and a 16-year-old girl from Saint-Exupery high school in Lyon. |
| Visiting the school, the minister expressed her condolences to the victims' families and urged their peers to "stay strong". | Visiting the school, the minister expressed her condolences to the victims' families and urged their peers to "stay strong". |
| Risk signposted | Risk signposted |
| A huge rescue operation was launched after the avalanche struck the group of 10 teenagers, their teacher and the Ukrainian, 57, on the Bellecombe piste at about 15:45 local time (14:45 GMT). | A huge rescue operation was launched after the avalanche struck the group of 10 teenagers, their teacher and the Ukrainian, 57, on the Bellecombe piste at about 15:45 local time (14:45 GMT). |
| The piste, which has the most difficult black rating, had been closed since the beginning of the ski season because of a lack of snow, a manager at Les Deux Alpes told local media. | The piste, which has the most difficult black rating, had been closed since the beginning of the ski season because of a lack of snow, a manager at Les Deux Alpes told local media. |
| However, large quantities of snow have fallen on the French Alps in recent days, raising the risk of avalanches, the regional government said (in French). | However, large quantities of snow have fallen on the French Alps in recent days, raising the risk of avalanches, the regional government said (in French). |
| As attention focused on the role of the teacher, officials said the danger had been well signposted, with netting blocking the top of the run. | As attention focused on the role of the teacher, officials said the danger had been well signposted, with netting blocking the top of the run. |
| "How could you consider taking children, after a period of heavy snow, on to a piste that was closed?" Patrick Kanner, Minister for Sport and Youth, told Europe 1. | "How could you consider taking children, after a period of heavy snow, on to a piste that was closed?" Patrick Kanner, Minister for Sport and Youth, told Europe 1. |
| "The reason why the teacher, who is himself injured, took them on to the closed run... is something the judicial inquiry will establish," said Mr Kanner. | |
| As well as the three who died, two other pupils were found injured and the teacher was unconscious after suffering multiple broken bones. | As well as the three who died, two other pupils were found injured and the teacher was unconscious after suffering multiple broken bones. |
| The teacher remains seriously ill in hospital but all other members of the party are now "safe and sound", according to the French interior ministry (in French). | The teacher remains seriously ill in hospital but all other members of the party are now "safe and sound", according to the French interior ministry (in French). |
| 'Sincere condolences' | 'Sincere condolences' |
| Witnesses told France Bleu radio that the avalanche was likely to have been triggered by groups skiing through the area. | Witnesses told France Bleu radio that the avalanche was likely to have been triggered by groups skiing through the area. |
| The run is situated on a particularly icy north-facing side of mountain, the radio station said. | The run is situated on a particularly icy north-facing side of mountain, the radio station said. |
| Students and their families lit candles and laid tributes as remaining members of the ski party returned to the school in Lyon on Wednesday evening. | Students and their families lit candles and laid tributes as remaining members of the ski party returned to the school in Lyon on Wednesday evening. |
| The education minister told reporters: "A investigation has been launched. All light will be thrown on the circumstances of this tragedy." | The education minister told reporters: "A investigation has been launched. All light will be thrown on the circumstances of this tragedy." |
| French President Francois Hollande offered "sincere condolences" to the victims' families and said "the solidarity of the whole nation" was with them. | French President Francois Hollande offered "sincere condolences" to the victims' families and said "the solidarity of the whole nation" was with them. |
| Four other people - two Lithuanians, a Spaniard and a Czech - have died since the New Year in avalanches in the French Alps, AFP reports. | Four other people - two Lithuanians, a Spaniard and a Czech - have died since the New Year in avalanches in the French Alps, AFP reports. |
| The regional government has urged skiers and other mountain users to take extra care and stay on marked pistes. | The regional government has urged skiers and other mountain users to take extra care and stay on marked pistes. |
| Are you in Les Deux Alpes area? Do you know anyone who has been affected by this avalanche? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Les Deux Alpes area? Do you know anyone who has been affected by this avalanche? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
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