A massive avalanche, described as "gigantic" and "monstrous," struck the French Alps near Vaujany and Alpe d'Huez in the early hours of Thursday, February 19th. Originating spontaneously at an altitude of over 2,500 meters in the Belledonne massif, the snowslide descended through the Frénet stream gorge and buried the departmental road D526, the sole access route to the village of Le Rivier d'Allemont, located at 1,300 meters. Thousands of tons of snow covered nearly two kilometers of the road, effectively cutting off the village. An exceptional helicopter operation on Sunday successfully evacuated sixty-four stranded residents.