Italian rescue workers comb the snow for buried skiers in the Italian Alps. Photo: CNSAS
A large avalanche swept through the Italian alps this weekend. As The Associated Press reports, dozens of skiers were caught up in the slide, with multiple deaths and injuries.
The incident occurred at 11:40 a.m. Saturday morning on Hohe Ferse mountain (also known as Monte Tallone Grande), located in northern Italy, near the Austrian border. The avalanche occurred at an altitude of 7,874 feet.
In total, 25 skiers were caught in the slide. Two skiers were killed, three were seriously injured and two suffered minor injuries. Italy’s Alpine rescue service CNSAS has not specified what happened to the other 18 people – whether they were buried, rescued, or if they also received any injuries.
To rescue the skiers, CNSAS mobilized six helicopters and 80 rescue staff, assisted by the Alpine Association, police, firefighters, and rescue dogs.
This has been a particularly treacherous ski season for European skiers. The European Avalanche Warning System (EAWS) has reported 127 fatalities for the 2025-2026 season – above the annual average of 100.
According to the Associated Press, experts posit that the high death toll has been caused by unusually unstable snowpack and a high number of skiers flocking to backcountry runs following heavy snowstorms.
