Spring snow storm wreaks deadly havoc in the Alps

More than a metre of snow fell in a few hours in the Alps as a rare spring storm left at least one dead and caused widespread chaos. Some ski resorts were cut off Thursday and roads, trains and schools were closed and cancelled in Switzerland, Italy and France. 

A 92-year-old man was found dead by firefighters in his flooded home in the Italian Piedmont region, the fire brigade and media said. In the French resort of Val Thorens, a woman suffered cardiac arrest after being buried in an avalanche, authorities said. 

In the French resort of Tignes, authorities ordered residents to remain indoors after more than 1.1 metres of snow fell overnight. The 36,000 people in the Swiss town of Sion were also told to stay home.Some parks in the city of Milan were closed because of flooding and strong winds.