American Boy, 15, and 2 Others Killed in an Avalanche Near Swiss Resort of Zermatt

Abigail Adams
·2 min read

The avalanche began around 2 p.m. local time Monday off the slopes of Riffelberg by the Swiss Alpine ski resort of Zermatt, according to local police

<p>Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP</p> Skiers ride down the slopes of the Zermatt ski resort with the Mount Matterhorn in the background, on Jan. 16, 2012, in Zermatt in the canton of Valais, Switzerland

Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP

Skiers ride down the slopes of the Zermatt ski resort with the Mount Matterhorn in the background, on Jan. 16, 2012, in Zermatt in the canton of Valais, Switzerland

  • A 15-year-old American boy and two other people were killed Monday after an avalanche struck near the Zermatt resort in Switzerland, according to police

  • Police said a fourth individual, a 20-year-old Swiss man, was seriously injured

  • The search for additional victims was suspended Monday night, authorities said

Three people, including an American teenager, have died after an avalanche struck near Switzerland's Zermatt resort on Monday.

The avalanche began around 2 p.m. local time off the slopes of Riffelberg by the Swiss Alpine ski resort of Zermatt, according to a French-language press release from police in the Valais canton.

Four people were removed from the snow, three of whom did not survive, according to police.

Among the victims was a 15-year-old American boy, whose name has not been released by authorities.

Related: 23-Year-Old Man Dead After Falling Over Kentucky Waterfall While Trying to Catch His Dog

Police said a man and woman were also killed in the avalanche. Authorities are currently working to identify them. The fourth individual, a 20-year-old Swiss man, was seriously injured.

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The search for additional victims was suspended Monday night, according to police. It is unclear if there are any other missing victims.

Related: 23-Year-Old Man Dead After Falling Over Kentucky Waterfall While Trying to Catch His Dog

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The Zermatt ski resort bills itself as “Europe's highest ski resort” where “skiing enthusiasts from all over the world congregate.” The resort’s website promises guests will enjoy “perfect snow conditions, [fantastic] descents and lots of sun.”

Zermatt sits at the foot of the Matterhorn, according to Switzerland Tourism’s website. Skiers, snowboarders and even Olympic hopefuls often train in the area during the wintertime.

Related: Skier, 27, Found Dead in Out-Of-Bounds Area at Vermont Resort Hours After Being Reported Missing

Last month, five of six cross-country skiers were found dead after going missing near the Matterhorn, according to the Associated Press.

Five of the six skiers were reportedly from a family in the Valais region, while the sixth lived in western Switzerland. According to the AP, the sixth person had not been accounted for.

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