A 14-year-old boy was killed in an avalanche while skiing off-piste at the Aiguille rouge in Arc 2000, Savoie, on December 25. Etienne Rolland, the commander of the high mountain gendarmerie, warned of particularly dangerous off-piste conditions due to heavy snowfall and strong winds. He urged skiers to check weather reports and avalanche risk assessments before venturing off marked trails and emphasized the need for proper equipment and professional guidance.