Skiers Flee in Terror as Massive Avalanche Engulfs Italian Alps Resort
Dramatic footage has emerged showing a terrifying moment when a massive avalanche rushed down a mountain slope in the Italian Alps, sending a crowd of skiers into a frantic scramble for safety. The incident occurred near the popular resort of Courmayeur on Tuesday, highlighting the severe risks facing winter sports enthusiasts this season.
Chaotic Scenes at Zerotta Chairlift
Waiting at the Zerotta chairlift in Val Veny, the group initially appeared indifferent to the looming danger, with some even skiing toward the vast plume of snow. However, as the avalanche descended rapidly, many began desperately trying to escape the white cloud of snow and ice. Young children were seen struggling to ski uphill away from the avalanche, while several individuals stumbled to the ground in their bid for safety.
This event marks the latest in a series of avalanches that have struck the European Alps this winter, contributing to a deadly week that has claimed multiple lives. Just days before, two people were killed in an avalanche at the same resort on Sunday, approximately 200 kilometers from where the Winter Olympic Games are being held in Milan.
Hazardous Conditions Across the Alps
Italy’s alpine rescuers have warned that recent storms have created particularly hazardous conditions across the entire Alpine crescent, which borders France, Switzerland, and Austria. Fresh snowfall combined with wind-swept snowcaps resting on weak internal layers has made the snowpack exceptionally unstable.
"Under such conditions, the passage of a single skier, or natural overloading from the weight of snow, can be sufficient to trigger an avalanche," cautioned Federico Catania, spokesman for Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps.
Deadly Week in the French Alps
On Tuesday, a British man and a French man died near the resort town of La Grave in the French Alps, bringing the total number of avalanche-related deaths in France to 27, according to reports from Le Monde. The avalanche risk in the La Grave area was listed as "high" by the French weather service Meteo France.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, two British skiers and another French skier were killed while skiing off-piste in the Val d’Isère ski resort in south-east France. They were swept away by an avalanche late on Friday morning, with one of the Britons identified as keen skier Leslie Stuart. Meteo France had issued a red alert for avalanches in the area just one day prior, with Val d’Isère ski resort strongly advising against off-piste skiing.
Record Fatalities in Italian Mountains
Last Thursday, rescuers reported a record 13 skiers, climbers, and hikers had died in the Italian mountains in the preceding week. Ten of those fatalities were attributed to avalanches, further underscoring the dangers posed by the unstable snowpack. Fortunately, in the Courmayeur incident, there have been no reports of any casualties, but the close call serves as a stark reminder of the perils in alpine regions.
As winter continues, authorities urge skiers and outdoor enthusiasts to exercise extreme caution, heed weather warnings, and avoid risky off-piste areas to prevent further tragedies in the Alps.
