Two Killed After Avalanche Hits Popular Ski Resort In Italy, One Critical | World News

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 08:17 IST

An avalanche at Val Veny in Courmayeur killed two skiers and injured one. Dangerous snow conditions persist in the Aosta Valley, warns Federico Catania.

Image credit: Instagram/jean_chiementin

Two skiers were killed, and one was severely injured after an avalanche hit Val Veny, part of the Courmayeur ski resort in north-west Italy.

Three men were skiing off-piste in the Couloir Vesses — a popular freeride route in Courmayeur — on Sunday morning when a large avalanche descended towards them.

One skier died on the spot, while another died on the way to the hospital, Fox News reported. Meanwhile, the third man was seriously injured and has been admitted to Le Molinette Hospital in Turin.

“Search and rescue operations involved 15 rescuers, three canine units and two helicopters. One victim was transported to a hospital in serious condition but later died,” the outlet said in a report.

The identities of the victims are yet to be disclosed.

Located some 200 km northwest of Milan, Courmayeur is a renowned venue for world-class skiing.

The Aosta Valley, where Val Veny is based, is currently a three out of five on the avalanche warning scale, suggesting dangerous and unstable snow conditions.

It comes as a record number of skiers and hikers have died in the Italian mountains over the last week, with ten out of thirteen being killed by avalanches.

According to Italy’s alpine rescuers, fresh snowfall during recent storms have created risky conditions along the entire Alpine crescent, posing a serious threat to skiers, climbers, and hikers.

Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps spokesman Federico Catania said, ‘’Under such conditions, the passage of a single skier, or natural overloading from the weight of snow, can be sufficient to trigger an avalanche”, reported the Associated Press.

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