A dramatic video has captured the moment an avalanche thundered down a mountain, prompting skiers to scramble for safety at a resort in the Italian Alps. This incident comes just days after a similar slow-moving avalanche claimed the lives of two people.
Initially, skiers at the Val Veny chairlift appeared transfixed, watching the powerful surge of snow approach. However, panic ensued as the avalanche crashed through a line of trees, prompting many to flee in terror as they were engulfed by a cloud of snow, as depicted in the gripping footage.
The video shows several individuals tumbling to the ground in their frantic attempt to escape uphill ahead of the avalanche.
Authorities have yet to confirm if there were any injuries resulting from this latest avalanche.
This incident at Courmayeur follows a tragic event on Sunday at the same resort, where another significant avalanche led to the death of two skiers. According to officials, one skier was pronounced dead on the scene, while another succumbed to injuries after being transported to a hospital. A third skier, who sustained serious injuries, was urgently taken to Le Molinette Hospital in Turin, located in northwest Italy.
One man died at the scene while another died after being transported to hospital, officials said. A third, who was seriously hurt, was rushed to Le Molinette Hospital in Turin in northwest Italy.
Dangerous conditions recently due to fresh snowfall and windswept mountaintops have plagued the European Alps, which border Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria, Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps said last week.
A record 13 backcountry skiers, climbers and hikers died in the Italian mountains over a week ending Feb. 8.
“Under such conditions, the passage of a single skier, or natural overloading from the weight of snow, can be sufficient to trigger an avalanche,” Federico Catania, spokesman for Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps, warned.
On Tuesday, a British man and a French man died near the resort town of La Grave in the French Alps, bringing the total number of avalanche-related deaths in France this ski season to 27, according to Le Monde.
Another avalanche killed three off-piste skiers, including two Brits and a French national, in the French Alps last Friday, a day after several ski resorts shut down due to the risk of snowslides.
The British victims were identified as Stuart Leslie and Shaun Overy, according to the Guardian.
With Post Wires
