- Title: Force Of Nature
- Date: 18th September 2004
- Summary: On 20 January 1999,a storm in the Atlantic Ocean began a chain of weather events that would ultimately lead to tragedy. It kicked off a relentless series of snowstorms - the worst weather conditions the Alps had seen in 400 years. By the first week of February,unprecedented snowfalls had left GaltÌ?r and its residents buried up to the 3-metre mark. But,unknown to them,thousands of tonnes of snow had built up on the nearby mountains. On 23 February 1999,the avalanche,100 metres high and travelling at more than 300 kilometres per hour,smashed into the village. It was all over in less than a minute. Dozens of people were buried in the carnage,six homes were completely destroyed and 28 buildings badly damaged. Eventually,22 people were pulled free from the rubble alive. But despite their efforts,rescuers were unable to save everyone - and the death toll reached 31.
- Description:Moment-by-moment accounts of situations that spiralled terrifyingly out of control. Each programme recreates a bruising encounter with nature in its rawest state,including the bitter freeze of a Mount Everest storm,the colossal swell of the Southern Ocean,the devastating power of an avalanche,and the breathtaking speed of a transatlantic jet stream.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:ITN Ltd.
- Programme Episode:Episode 5
- Transmission Date:18/09/2004
- Rights:Worldwide
- Decade: 2000s