Avalanche Kills three skiers in Italian Alps

Three people died when an avalanche struck a group of 5 skiers in the Piedmont Region of the Italian Alps over the weekend. The slide occured around noon on Sunday, January 12, on the eastern face of Punta Valgranda, a 9,300-foot peak on the border of Italy and Switzerland.

The victims, identified as Enzo Bonini, 65, Matteo Auguadro, 48, and Matteo Lomazzi, 34, were part of a group of five skiers ascending the mountain when the avalanche struck, sweeping them approximately 400 meters downhill. Two other skiers in the group, Lorenzo Locarni and Renato Rossi, survived and were transported to the hospital suffering from shock.

Rescue operations were hampered by challenging weather conditions, with poor visibility and unstable snowpacks that complicated efforts. A category 3 avalanche alert had been issued for steep areas above 6,900 feet in the Piedmont region at the time of the incident.

The importance of avalanche safety can never be understated when spending time in the backcountry. Knowing the snow conditions before embarking on a trip can be life saving. 

Our thoughts are with those affected.