Fears that young British workers are among casualties in ski resort fire

Monday, 20 Jan, 2019 0

Two people have died and four others are seriously injured following a blaze at a building housing seasonal workers in the ski resort of Courchevel.

More than a dozen other workers were hurt in the fire, which broke out a 4.30 am in the top two floors of a four-storey building.

Foreigners are believed to be among the casualties, which could include youngsters working for British tour operators in the popular French resort.

The building in Courchevel 1850 was used to house around 60 seasonal workers in total and so far the authorities haven’t given the names or nationalities of those injured.

The two who died were found inside the building by firefighters; other people are said to have jumped from balconies to escape the blaze, which broke out above a Chanel store in the village.

Those who fled the building were taken to shelter in a building in the Croisette.

More than 70 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze, the cause of which is not yet known.The cause is not yet known.

Three of the four seriously injured were flown to hospital by helicopter.

Staff at the White Storm ski hire shop say the fire was in the Isba building next door to the shop in Place du Rocher, 60 metres from the piste, according to Planetski.eu

The Courchevel town hall has set up an emergency number for concerned relatives. It is 0800 008 902.

The representative for the Savoie in the French National Assembly, Emilie Bonnivard, has expressed her shock and sadness at the news.



 

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Linsey McNeill

Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk



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