Avalanche in Italy kills five including father and daughter
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Avalanche Claims Five German Climbers In Italian Alps
Avalanche Claims Five German Climbers In Italian Alps. A sudden snowslide near Cima Vertana in South Tyrol leaves five dead and two rescued, highlighting the persistent dangers of mountaineering in the Ortler range. The victims included two men and a woman, whose bodies were recovered on Saturday, and a father and his 17-year-old daughter, found the following morning. Two other climbers, miraculously, survived the ordeal; they were airlifted to a hospital in Bolzano, reportedly treated for shock but otherwise unharmed. The climbers, equipped with crampons and ice axes, were reportedly just a few hundred meters from achieving their goal when disaster struck. The first group, consisting of three climbers, was completely buried by the avalanche. In a second group of four, two survived by finding shelter, while the remaining two were swept away and later found dead. The search operation was complicated by adverse weather, with poor conditions delaying the recovery of the last two victims until Sunday morning.
Key Points Report five German climbers died and two survived after an avalanche struck near the summit of Cima Vertana at over 3,500 meters on November 1, 2025.
Describe rescue efforts using helicopters, drones, and thermal imaging amid worsening weather, with delayed recovery of victims due to poor conditions.
Highlight speculation about late ascent timing and sudden weather changes triggering the avalanche, noting the region’s rising avalanche incidents and risks.
On the afternoon of Saturday, November 1, 2025, a devastating avalanche struck the slopes of Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range near Solda, South Tyrol, northern Italy, claiming the lives of five German climbers and casting a somber shadow over a region beloved by mountaineers. The tragedy unfolded at an altitude of more than 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) as three separate groups—traveling independently—were caught in a sudden cascade of snow and ice, just a few hundred meters from the summit.
The victims included two men and a woman, whose bodies were recovered on Saturday, and a father and his 17-year-old daughter, found the following morning. Two other climbers, miraculously, survived the ordeal; they were airlifted to a hospital in Bolzano, reportedly treated for shock but otherwise unharmed. According to the Associated Press, the survivors had managed to escape the main torrent of the avalanche, a feat that likely saved their lives.
Details of the incident emerged from multiple reports, including those by AFP, DW, and The Guardian. The first group, consisting of three climbers, was completely buried by the avalanche. All three perished. In a second group of four, two survived by finding shelter, while the remaining two—a father and his teenage daughter—were swept away and later found dead. Italian alpine rescue teams, led by spokesperson Federico Catania, described the harrowing search and recovery efforts. “They had been dragged to the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred,” Catania told the Associated Press. He added, “Rescue teams are now returning to the valley, also considering the worsening weather conditions at high altitude.”
The search operation was complicated by adverse weather, with poor conditions delaying the recovery of the last two victims until Sunday morning. The rescue teams utilized helicopters, drones, and thermal imaging in their efforts, displaying both urgency and caution as night fell and the weather deteriorated. Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden mountain rescue service, noted late Saturday that hopes for finding the missing climbers alive were slim, given that they had fallen about 200 meters (656 feet) during the avalanche.
Questions have arisen about why the climbers were still ascending at 4 p.m.—considered a relatively late hour for such a high-altitude climb. Rescuers and local media, including Corriere della Sera, speculated that a combination of factors, such as a sudden wind and the accumulation of snowdrifts near the summit in recent days, may have triggered the avalanche. Notably, the risk of avalanches was not considered high on the day of the incident, adding to the sense of unpredictability and tragedy. The climbers, equipped with crampons and ice axes, were reportedly just a few hundred meters from achieving their goal when disaster struck.
South Tyrol, nestled near the Swiss border, is renowned among German tourists for its challenging peaks and breathtaking alpine scenery. The Ortler massif, with its highest peak Ortles rising to 3,905 meters, is a magnet for experienced climbers and hikers. Cima Vertana, the site of the avalanche, is one of the region’s most sought-after summits. According to Newsday, avalanche accidents are a persistent problem in the Italian Alps, with the country registering one of the highest 10-year average annual death tolls among major ski nations. Many victims are ski mountaineers or freeriders drawn to the allure of untouched backcountry terrain.
Some experts and local authorities have observed an uptick in avalanche incidents in recent years, possibly linked to more people venturing into remote areas immediately after fresh snowfall. This trend, reported by the Associated Press, has raised concerns about the growing risks facing both seasoned and amateur mountaineers. Despite the popularity of the region and the precautions taken by many climbers, nature’s unpredictability continues to pose a formidable challenge.
The avalanche on Cima Vertana was particularly severe, sweeping away two rope teams and scattering climbers down the mountainside. The force of the snow buried the first group entirely, while the second group experienced a split fate—two surviving, two lost. The precise sequence of events is still being pieced together, but what’s clear is the suddenness and power of the avalanche left little time for evasive action.
In the aftermath, the mountaineering community in Germany and Italy has been left reeling. Tributes have poured in for the victims, especially the 17-year-old girl whose life was cut tragically short. Local authorities in South Tyrol have expressed their condolences and emphasized the ongoing risks associated with high-altitude climbing, even for experienced adventurers. The incident has also reignited discussions about safety protocols, weather forecasting, and the importance of early starts for summit attempts.
While the region remains a beacon for those seeking alpine adventure, the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers lurking in the high mountains. Italian alpine rescue services, who responded with professionalism and resolve, have reiterated calls for climbers to heed weather warnings and to avoid late-day summit pushes, particularly when conditions are unpredictable. As Federico Catania remarked, “Rescue teams are now returning to the valley, also considering the worsening weather conditions at high altitude.” His words reflect not only the challenges of the rescue operation but also the respect that even the most seasoned mountaineers must have for the mountains.
For the families of the victims, the loss is immeasurable. For the broader mountaineering world, the avalanche on Cima Vertana is a stark illustration of both the allure and the peril of the Alps—a place where beauty and danger are often inextricably linked.
Girl, 17, and her father among five dead after avalanche in Italy
A 17-year-old girl and her father are among five German nationals killed in an avalanche in Italy’s Dolomite mountains. The group of three “was fully swept away by the avalanche” and all died, said Italy’s Alpine rescue service. Two other climbers in a third party survived, and went on to raise the alarm which triggered the rescue operation. The event occurred at around 16:00 local time on Saturday, as the climbers were scaling Cima Vertana in the Ortler Alps.
Two other climbers in a third party survived, and went on to raise the alarm which triggering the rescue operation.
Separately, the father and daughter were carried away in the fast-moving snow. Their bodies were recovered on Sunday.
A group of three “was fully swept away by the avalanche” and all died, said Italy’s Alpine rescue service, Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico.
The event occurred at around 16:00 local time on Saturday, as the climbers were scaling Cima Vertana in the Ortler Alps.
Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, told German media the incident might have been caused by recent snow drifts not bonding to the ice below.
He said that climbing tours on the 3,545-metre (11,630ft) mountain, also called Vertainspitze, were popular and the weather conditions were good, although was unsure why the mountaineers were climbing late in the afternoon, as the descent would have then taken until nightfall.
The bodies of the group of three were recovered on Saturday.
Shortly afterwards rescue efforts were suspended due to fading light and safety conditions, and did not resume until conditions improved on Sunday.
Once the fog lifted on the Sunday, rescuers and avalanche dog units were airlifted to 2,600 meters before setting out on foot, where they located the bodies of the father and daughter.
The two men who survived the accident were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the near city of Bolzano after the avalanche, where they were reportedly treated for shock.
No other climbers were believed to be in the area of the incident.
Avalanche accidents remain an issue in the Italian Alps, with the country having one of the highest 10-year average annual death tolls among ski nations.
Avalanche Kills Five Tourists in Italian Alps
Seven German tourists were caught while heading up the mountain on a ski tour. Two escaped unharmed, but the other five died. The victims include two men in their 30s and 50s, a 30-year-old woman, and a father with his 17- year-old daughter.
Seven German tourists were caught while heading up the mountain on a ski tour. Two escaped unharmed, but the other five died. The victims include two men in their 30s and 50s, a 30-year-old woman, and a father with his 17-year-old daughter, according to Tiroler Tageszeitung.
Rescue teams from Italy’s mountain service worked fast with helicopters to search the area. They found three bodies — a man, another man, and a woman — on Saturday. The father and daughter were found dead today.
Experts say the avalanche occurred because new snow didn’t stick well to the old layer after heavy winds and fresh falls. There was no high alert for danger that day, but early winter storms made the slopes risky. ANSA, the Italian news agency, noted that the avalanche swept away two separate rope teams from the group.
No one else was hurt in nearby slides that day. Police say the group members were skilled climbers, but the sudden event was difficult to predict. Families are getting support, and the site is now closed for safety.
This area is popular among climbers from Germany and nearby countries, but it can be very dangerous in bad weather.
Father and daughter, 17, among five found dead after avalanche in Italy
The mountaineers, all Germans, were hit by the avalanche at about 4 p.m. on Saturday while climbing near the Cima Vertana. Two men survived the accident and were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the near city of Bolzano. South Tyrol is a popular region for mountaineering among tourists from Germany. The region’s highest peak is Ortles, which rises to 3,905 meters.
Three victims — two men and a woman — had already been recovered dead on Saturday, while the bodies of two other missing people, a man and his 17-year-old daughter, were found on Sunday morning.
“They had been dragged to the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred,” said Alpine rescue spokesman Federico Catania. “Rescue teams are now returning to the valley, also considering the worsening weather conditions at high altitude.”
The mountaineers, all Germans, were hit by the avalanche at about 4 p.m. on Saturday while climbing near the Cima Vertana, in the Ortles mountains, at an altitude of more than 3,500 meters (11,500 feet).
The site of the avalanche where five German mountaineers have been killed (AP)
It is unknown why the climbers were still on their way up at this relatively late hour, rescuers said.
According to initial information, the climbers were in three groups and were traveling independently of each other. Two men survived the accident and were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the near city of Bolzano.
South Tyrol is a popular region for mountaineering among tourists from Germany. The region’s highest peak is Ortles, which rises to 3,905 meters.
Avalanche accidents are a persistent issue in the Italian Alps, with the country registering one of the higher 10-year average annual death tolls among major ski nations. Victims are frequently ski mountaineers or freeriders.
Some analysis suggests that the number of accidents has increased in recent years possibly due to more people heading to backcountry areas immediately after fresh snowfall.
Five German mountaineers killed in Italian Alps avalanche
Five German climbers, including a 17-year-old girl, died in a Dolomites avalanche near the Swiss border in South Tyrol. Two climbers from a second group of four people managed to survive by finding shelter.
ROME: Five German mountaineers lost their lives in an avalanche on Saturday afternoon in Italy’s Dolomite mountains.
The victims included a 17-year-old girl among the group of climbers from Germany.
Two separate climbing parties were caught in the sudden snowslide near the Swiss border in South Tyrol.
The first group of three climbers was completely buried by the powerful avalanche.
All three members of that initial climbing team tragically perished in the incident.
Two climbers from a second group of four people managed to survive by finding shelter.
Rescuers recovered the bodies of the father and his teenage daughter on Sunday morning.
Poor weather conditions had significantly delayed the search and recovery operations.
The two deceased climbers had been carried to the lower section of the avalanche channel.
Italian alpine rescue services confirmed these tragic details in their official statement. – AFP