- Two skiers died, and one was injured, in an avalanche near the 2026 Winter Olympics location in Italy.
- Officials attribute fatalities to "persistent weak layers in the snowpack" causing unpredictable avalanches.
- Alpine Rescue urges "conservative routes" and carrying safety gear; "turning back...is the choice."
Two skiers have been killed, and another injured, in an avalanche at an Italian luxury resort nearby the location of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Associated Press reported.
Tragedy Strikes Italian Ski Resort
The tragedy occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 15, Sunday, Feb. 15, in Courmayeur, which is located in the northern part of Italy, about 135 miles from the Olympic Games in Milan. The skiers, whose identities have not been publicly disclosed, were reportedly off-piste at the time of the avalanche, meaning they were skiing off of the prescribed trail. Fifteen rescuers, along with three canine units and two helicopters, responded to the scene.
According to officials, the “main problem” in each of the fatal cases throughout February has been “persistent weak layers in the snowpack, often covered by fresh or wind-blown snow — conditions that make avalanches unpredictable and easily triggered even by the passage of a single skier or mountaineer.”
“There are many dangerous spots, and they are difficult to identify, even for experienced people,” they added.
Alpine Rescue encouraged skiers to choose “conservative routes” and to “always carry an avalanche transceiver” along with a “shovel and probe (and be sure you know how to use them)…When doubt is high, turning back isn’t just a choice — it is the choice: waiting for better conditions makes the difference.”
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