Brits among tourists evacuated after horror fire as Foreign Office issues travel update

By Astha Saxena, Features Reporter

Fire in a holiday center in La Plagne (Image: Maire La Plagne Tarentaise)

A massive fire broke out at a popular ski resort in France, prompting the UK Foreign Office to update its travel advice for tourists. Hundreds of tourists were forced to flee from the hotel in the resort of La Plagne in Savoie in the early hours of April 9.

According to initial reports from the fire department, the flames started in a container located in the basement of the MMV Plagne 2000 holiday village. The incident left four people injured, with around 420 people, including British nationals, forced to evacuate the building. Reports suggest that more than a hundred firefighters with 46 engines and two water hoses were dispatched to the scene.

Rémy Pomeret, the deputy departmental director of the Savoie fire brigade, told france3: "The facade fire then spread to the roof. We focused our efforts on limiting the spread of the facade fire, since the infrastructure is made up of two adjacent buildings. The main risk was therefore the spread of the fire to the second building.

"This is one of the biggest fires La Plagne has ever seen. It's impressive, but fortunately, completely contained," said the mayor of Aime La Plagne, Corine Maironi Gonthier.

The incident led the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to issue an urgent travel advice for all those travelling to France.

The Foreign Office stated: "There is an ongoing incident following a fire on 9 April in the ski resort of La Plagne, in the Alps. If you are in the area or planning to travel to the area, follow the advice of local authorities and check your tour operator’s advice.

"If you require consular assistance, call +33 1 44 51 31 00 and follow the options to speak to a consular officer."

Three of the casualties were reportedly treated for smoke inhalation and were transferred to the hospital in Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Savoie). A child was also hospitalised in Albertville (Savoie) following an epileptic seizure.