Alpine Avalanches Kill 5; 9 Missing

Heavy snow brought parts of Europe to a standstill and caused major avalanches in the French Alps that killed five people. Roads and airports were shut down, mountain villages were evacuated, and thousands of tourists were stranded at ski resorts in Switzerland and Austria. In two villages just north of Chamonix, a French ski resort, 200 rescue workers used sensors and dogs to search for people believed trapped inside a dozen chalets buried under tons of snow. About 20 people were pulled out alive. Nine people were still missing.