The mayor of Chamonix, Michel Charlet, has been placed under investigation for "homicides et blessures involontaires" in connection with the avalanche in February 1999 that swept away 23 chalets, killing 12 people.

A subsequent inquiry looked into whether the local authority had been negligent in deeming the area safe for property development.

Permits were given to build the hamlets in Tour and Montroc in zones where there was a known risk of avalanches ('constructibles mais avec des risques').

[Story from AP, France 2 and Reuters]

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