Two children crushed to death by giant boulder as they slept in ski chalet in the French Alps

 
Deaths: Police at the scene of the boulder tragedy
Standard Reporter23 February 2014

Two children died this morning when a giant boulder destroyed the Alpine ski chalet in which they were sleeping.

The horrific accident took place just before 5am close to the British-built resort of Isola 2000, in southern France.

Images from the scene show the building reduced to rubble by the a landslide.

According to the village's mayor, there were five adults and two children inside.

Some of the adults managed to escape, said Mayor Jean-Marie Bogini.

A police officer examines the remains of the ski chalet

But the children, aged seven and 10, were unable to get out.

None of the victims have yet been identified.

Jean-Marie Bogini, the mayor of the village of Isola, told reporters: "It happened in a chalet on the outskirts of the village. There was a landslide.

"There were seven people in the house – five adults and two children."

The boulder which flattened the house was 32ft high and 16ft wide.

Police said: "Three of the survivors managed to get out of the rubble alone, while the remaining two had to be freed by the emergency service."

The scene of devastation caused by the giant boulder

Those who escaped were rushed to St Roch hospital 70 miles away in Nice.

They were treated for minor injuries and shock and received counselling.

Nearby roads were closed today as local police examined the scene.

In 2009 the resort of Isola 2000 was completely blocked off when three avalanches fell on roads leading up to it. Hundreds of Britons were among those trapped.

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