Tragic Avalanche Claims Two Lives on Italian Mont Blanc Slopes
Two skiers have perished and a third was injured following a devastating off-trail avalanche that struck the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif on Sunday morning. The identities of the victims have not been publicly released by authorities at this time.
Incident Details and Rescue Operation
The tragic event unfolded at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time in the Couloir Vesses, a renowned freeride route located in Courmayeur within the upper Val Veny region. This area sits near the borders with both France and Switzerland. At least three skiers were caught in the powerful slide.
Italy's Alpine Rescue service swiftly coordinated a comprehensive search and recovery mission. The operation involved a significant deployment of resources, including 15 specialized rescuers, three highly trained canine units, and two helicopters dispatched to the remote scene. One of the victims was initially transported to a hospital in serious condition but unfortunately later succumbed to their injuries.
Broader Context of Alpine Dangers
This incident occurs against a backdrop of exceptionally hazardous conditions across the Italian mountains. Just last Monday, Alpine Rescue officials reported a grim record: 13 backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers lost their lives in the Italian Alps over the week ending February 8. Ten of these fatalities were directly attributed to avalanches.
Federico Catania, spokesman for Italy's Alpine Rescue Corps, explained the perilous situation. "Fresh snowfall from recent storms combined with wind-swept snowcaps on weak internal layers has created especially risky conditions along the entire Alpine crescent bordering France, Switzerland, and Austria," he stated. "Under such conditions, the passage of a single skier, or natural overloading from the weight of snow, can be sufficient to trigger an avalanche."
Olympic Sites Remain Secure
Importantly, officials have emphasized that the avalanche deaths occurred exclusively on ungroomed, unmanaged slopes far from secured Olympic venues. Courmayeur, a town of approximately 2,900 inhabitants situated about 200 kilometers northwest of Milan, is one of the locations set to host events for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
"There is no danger for people skiing within managed ski resorts, and in particular no risks to the Olympic sites," Catania assured. "All of these areas are constantly monitored and are generally safe regardless of Olympic events." This includes well-maintained sites in Lombardy on the Swiss border, Cortina d'Ampezzo in Veneto, and cross-country skiing areas in Val di Fiemme within the autonomous province of Trentino.
Additional Incident in Trentino
In a separate but related event on Sunday, authorities reported another avalanche incident in the Trentino region. One individual was partially buried by snow but was successfully rescued by their companions, highlighting the critical importance of group safety measures in the backcountry.
The Alpine Rescue continues to warn all winter sports enthusiasts of the extreme instability of the current snowpack, urging extreme caution for anyone venturing outside officially managed and monitored ski resort boundaries.
