Three skiers killed in avalanche on Punta Valgrande, Italy
Three skiers lost their lives in an avalanche in Punta Valgrande in Italy’s Piedmont region near the border with Switzerland on January 12, 2025.
Piedmont Alpine and Speleological Rescue responds to avalanche in Italy's Piedmont region. Image credit: Piedmont Alpine and Speleological Rescue
3 people got killed in an avalanche in Punta Valgrande in Italy’s Piedmont region near the border with Switzerland. The avalanche struck at 12:30 LT (11:30 UTC) on Sunday, January 12, and trapped 5 mountaineers in the snow.
Rescuers managed to save 2 individuals while 3 were found deceased after being dragged several hundred meters down the slope.
The avalanche occurred on the eastern face of Punta Valgrande, a peak in the Leopontine Alps that rises above 2 800 m (9 186 feet). The incident took place near the village of Trasquera, a popular area for experienced skiers and mountaineers.
Emergency calls were received shortly after noon, prompting an immediate response, according to the Piedmont Alpine and Speleological Rescue. Medical teams arrived by helicopter and rescued the 2 survivors before locating the deceased victims.
Authorities reported that the avalanche swept the victims down several hundred meters before burying them under the snow. The bodies have not yet been retrieved as recovery efforts await authorization from the local magistrate.
An avalanche warning had been issued for the region advising that areas above 2 100 m (6 890 feet) were at “considerable danger” with a risk level of 3 on a scale of 5.
Officials are investigating whether the alarm was raised by another skier witnessing the event or by the 2 survivors who managed to escape.
Reports indicate that the group had been ascending the mountain using crampons before preparing to descend on skis when the avalanche struck.
In Adamello, another part of the Italian Alps, search efforts for a missing climber were temporarily halted because of worsening weather conditions. Authorities have not yet confirmed when operations will resume.
References:
1 Three people killed in an avalanche in Italy’s Leopontine Alps – euronews – January 12, 2025
2 3 killed in avalanche that trapped 5 skiers in Italy – FOX WEATHER – January 13, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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