French ski resort Risoul has been cut off from the outside world and severely damaged by a weather event which brought a torrent of water, snow, ice, mud and rocks down the mountain side. 

The ski area, in the southern French Alps, had not fully opened for the season and there were only about 100 people there at the time. So far no one has been reported hurt.

The event, described in French media as a ‘torrent’ followed heavy snowfall then a period of heavy rain to high altitudes. The event is reported to have damaged buildings, smashing windows, with one report noting a boulder of about 1 metre diameter left in one building.

The weather event also opened up a two metre wide ‘crevasse’ in the resort’s access road which has left it cut off for  the 48 hours since, with power supplies also cut. although police organised a rescue of everyone wanting to leave on Sunday evening.

Many ski areas in the Alps were fully or partially closed on Saturday due to the stormy weather although most re-opened with fresh snow and blue skies on Sunday.

Risoul had planned to  start its season next weekend and resort managers say they hope this will still be possible, although some local residents interviewed by French media expressed their doubts.