South Tyrol, Italy experienced a deadly avalanche which left 25 people trapped, with two skiers losing their lives. The incident took place near the Austria border.
According to reports from the Associated Press, on Saturday, March 21st, an avalanche struck the high mountain region of South Tyrol in Italy, resulting in the deaths of two skiers.
The avalanche occurred on the slope of Hohe Ferse (Monte Tallone Grande) at an altitude of approximately 2400 meters (7874 feet). The mountain, reaching 2669 meters (8757 feet), is located near the town of Laion on the Austria border.
The Italian National Mountain Rescue Committee (CNSAS) in Bolzano reported that a total of 25 skiers were trapped in the avalanche. Apart from the two fatalities, three individuals sustained serious injuries while two others suffered minor injuries.
The avalanche struck at 11:40 AM local time on Saturday. Six helicopters, along with around 80 rescue personnel from the CNSAS, Alpine associations, police, and fire departments were mobilized for the rescue operation.
This snow season has seen an unusually high number of avalanche-related deaths. The European Avalanche Warning Service Center reported on avalanches.org that an average of 100 people die in avalanches each snow season. As of March 16th, this season (starting from October 1st) has seen 127 reported deaths, with Italy accounting for 33, France for 31, and Austria for 29.
In early February, during Italy’s hosting of the Winter Olympics, a record-breaking 13 skiers died on the slopes within a week, with 10 fatalities attributed to avalanches.
Experts attribute these tragic events to abnormally unstable snow layers and the rush of ski enthusiasts to off-piste areas following recent heavy snowfalls.
Climate experts believe that the instability of the snowpack is a result of rising temperatures and increased wind strength.