In a tragic incident on Sunday, two skiers lost their lives while another was injured when an avalanche struck a popular off-trail skiing area on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif, close to the French-Swiss border, according to officials.
The avalanche occurred in the morning and affected three skiers who were navigating the Couloir Vesses, a renowned off-piste route in the upper Val Veny of Courmayeur, as reported by Italy’s Alpine Rescue and The Associated Press.
The rescue operation was extensive, involving 15 rescuers, three canine units, and two helicopters. Tragically, one of the victims, initially transported to the hospital in critical condition, later succumbed to injuries.
In a separate incident, authorities reported that another individual was partially buried by an avalanche in Trentino but was successfully rescued by companions.
A photo provided by the Italian Alpine Rescue depicted the scene of the fatal avalanche in the Couloir Vesses, a favored freeride path in Courmayeur’s upper Val Veny, Northern Italy, on Sunday, February 15, 2026. (Image courtesy of Italian Alpine Rescue via AP)
This heartbreaking event occurs during a particularly perilous period in the Italian Alps. Italy’s Alpine Rescue noted that, in the week ending February 8, a record 13 backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers perished in the Italian mountains, with 10 fatalities attributed to avalanches caused by an exceptionally unstable snowpack.
Officials said recent storms have dumped fresh snow onto fragile underlying layers, while strong winds have created unstable drifts, producing hazardous conditions across the Alpine arc bordering France, Switzerland and Austria.
The main issue is caused by “persistent weak layers in the snowy cloak, often covered by fresh snow or wind, conditions that make detachments unpredictable and easily triggered even by the passing of a single skier or alpinist,” the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps said. “The dangerous points are many and difficult to identify, even for an expert.”
Vigili del Fuoco crew members conducts a helicopter rescue over a snow-covered mountain area. (Vigili del Fuoco)
Federico Catania, a spokesperson for Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps, said recent snowstorms have drawn visitors eager to take advantage of fresh slopes, “and as a result, the number of accidents, and therefore fatalities, has increased proportionally,” The AP reported.
Courmayeur, a town of roughly 2,900 residents, sits about 200 kilometers – or 124 miles – northwest of Milan, a host city for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The incidents occurred as the Winter Olympics were kicking off in the region on Feb. 6.
Two Vigili del Fuoco crew members stand inside a helicopter next to an open door during a snowy mountain operation. (Vigili del Fuoco)
Authorities stressed that competition sites – located in Lombardy near the Swiss border, Cortina d’Ampezzo in Veneto and Val di Fiemme in Trentino – remain safe, well-maintained and closely monitored.
“There is no danger for people skiing within managed ski resorts, and, in particular, no risks to the Olympic sites,” Catania said previously. “All of these areas are constantly monitored and are generally safe regardless of Olympic events.”
Prior to the start of the Winter Olympics, Vigili del Fuoco said crews would maintain safety measures for all visitors to the sites.
