Shortly after noon on Sunday, a snow avalanche detached in the mountains of Verbano, in the municipal territory of Trasquera, overwhelming a group of people, stated Rai News. The alarm was raised around 12:30 PM by a ski mountaineer who witnessed the mass of snow and debris sweeping the valley, reported Leggo. Five people were involved: three died and two were injured. Search teams rushed to the area. One of the injured was airlifted to the hospital, reported ANSA. Personnel from the Alpine Rescue Service and dog teams continued recovery operations, indicated Il Fatto Quotidiano. The cause of the incident remained unclear; authorities did not confirm whether the victims were skiers or snowshoers, noted Leggo.
The avalanche took place in the area of Punta Val Grande in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont, close to the Swiss border, said Diário de Notícias. In the Northern Lepontine Alps, the avalanche risk was at level 3 that day, meaning there was a possibility of a detachment triggered by the weight of a single winter sports enthusiast at altitude, indicated Il Fatto Quotidiano. Some early assessments suggested the avalanche occurred around 2,000 meters, noted Il Giornale, while La Stampa later stated it detached at approximately 2,850 meters, with caution advised above 2,000 meters. A landslide also took place in Trasquera, described by ANSA as adding to the emergency response.
Search and rescue operations began immediately and included canine units and professionals using the Artva device, a tool that transmits signals to locate persons under the snow, explained Il Giornale. Rescuers acted rapidly, and health operators of 118 also arrived by air, Il Giornale added. The helicopter in the area transported the injured to a hospital, reported Leggo. The Civil Alpine Service and the Alpine Rescue of the Guardia di Finanza, Sagf, monitored the snowpack for responder safety, detailed Il Giornale.
Arpa offered additional context regarding regional conditions. “In some places, avalanches can involve old snow with angular crystals and reach large sizes,” stated Arpa, according to La Stampa. “The dangerous points are partly snow-covered and barely identifiable,” added Arpa, and “Excursions require experience in assessing avalanche danger and a prudent choice of itinerary,” concluded Arpa, as cited by La Stampa. The carabinieri of Varzo also intervened, confirmed Rai News.
Three people died, and two others were injured. Rai News stated that the three who died likely sustained fatal injuries after being dragged down the slope for several hundred meters. Some ski mountaineers were first to arrive and pulled the victims from the snow, but resuscitation attempts failed, added Rai News. The magistrate’s authorization was awaited for transporting the bodies down the valley, reported Rai News. Personnel remained on site to retrieve the deceased and watch for any further snow movements.
Local authorities and rescue teams stressed caution in these conditions. Fresh snowfall, wind-blown accumulations, and underlying weak layers appeared to contribute to the hazard. Il Fatto Quotidiano indicated that a level 3 avalanche risk could lead to serious incidents when winter sports enthusiasts traveled at higher elevations. The accident in Trasquera showed how quickly conditions could deteriorate in mountainous regions when shifting weather patterns created unstable snow layers on steep terrain.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq