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French schoolgirl, Ukrainian tourist killed in French Alps avalanche

By Andrew V. Pestano

PARIS, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- An avalanche in the French Alps buried several people on Wednesday, killing a 14-year-old French schoolgirl and a Ukrainian tourist, and leaving five other students missing.

At least two student survivors had heart attacks while another is in a serious condition, BBC News reported. Nine high school students and a teacher were skiing at the Les Deux Alpes resort when the avalanche occurred at about 4 p.m. The teacher was found unconscious and several of the victims were airlifted to local hospitals via helicopter.

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The students are from the Saint-Exupéry de Lyon High School in central France. About 30 police accompanied by rescue dogs and several helicopters were dispatched to the scene.

Witnesses suggest the avalanche was likely triggered by groups skiing in the area, which has experienced large quantities of snow fall recently. The school group was skiing on the Bellecombe piste, one of the most difficult tracks of the mountain. The local mayor said the ski run was closed at the time of the avalanche.

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