One Dead And 15,000 Stranded In French Alps

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Around 15,000 vehicles are stuck in the French Alps as heavy snow blankets roads leading to the region's popular ski resorts.

The snow and ice hit as holidaymakers travelled to and from ski resorts in the Savoie region in southeastern France.

Authorities have set up shelters in 12 towns to cope with the number of travellers forced to leave their cars.

The freezing conditions caused the death of a 27-year-old man whose car slid into a ravine in the Belledonne mountain range.

France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has urged drivers "to exercise the utmost caution" and asked drivers to delay their journeys if possible.

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Gallery: Heavy Snow Leaves Thousands Stranded In French Alps

Around 15,000 vehicles are stuck in the French Alps due to heavy snow

Some 20 locations were being opened to look after stranded holidaymakers Pic: Mike Rhodes

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French authorities said 20 locations were being opened to look after stranded holidaymakers

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Local town halls and schools have been converted into makeshift shelters

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The snow and ice hit as holidaymakers travelled to and from ski resorts in the Savoie region

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Regional authorities say they have activated an emergency plan to re-house stranded holidaymakers unable to reach their destinations.

The Ministry said 20 locations were being opened to look after stranded holidaymakers.

Ski journalist Ben Clatworthy, who is based in St Martin de Belleville, told Sky News that French authorities are doing their best to cope.

"They have opened schools and sports centres for the evening here," he said.

"There are 150 people staying in the sports centre... and at another resort there are 300 people bedding down in temporary accommodation.

"I was speaking with someone earlier who said it had taken them ten hours to get to the bottom of the valley in a journey that would normally take one hour."

Traveller Kate Rhodes told Sky News: "I am on a coach with several tired and hungry people. Everyone is fine and the kids are subsisting off Haribo sweets.

"No emergency services to be seen whatsoever or anyone handing out hot drinks and food to weary drivers, many of whom are with small children en route to their holidays, stuck on the road in freezing temperatures.

"The situation is very frustrating. The biggest drama of all is of course most people's phones have run out of battery so they are getting anxious about other friends who are also travelling at this time, and letting family know they are fine."

France's meteorological services said they are expecting more snowfall and "significant re-freezing".

Pictures taken in Brides les Bains by resident Eric Bouvier show stranded cars and coaches on the route to the Courchevel ski resort.

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