Climbing
[UPDATE CAN BE FOUND HERE: 5 Confirmed Dead in Italian Avalanche as Bodies of Missing Father and Daughter Found]
Tragedy struck in the Italian Alps on Saturday afternoon, November 1, when two groups of in total seven alpinists were swept away by an avalanche beneath the Vertain peak, near the resort village of Sulden (Solda) in South Tyrol. The two groups consisted of a group three, which was completely buried while the second group consisted of four of which two had not been in the avalanche area yet and were able to alert authorities. The three skiers from the first group, two men and a woman, were found dead at the scene, while two others remain missing despite an extensive rescue operation. The search for the missing two persons will continue on Sunday, November 2.
The avalanche occurred around 3:50 p.m. in the Ortler massif, one of South Tyrol’s most iconic mountain ranges. The Vertainspitze, which reaches 3,545 meters (11,631 feet) lies just northeast of Mount Ortler, South Tyrol’s highest peak, in an area popular among experienced ski tourers and mountaineers. The region, known for its steep alpine terrain and heavy early-season snowfall, has seen increased avalanche risk in recent days.
Emergency services were quickly deployed after the alarm was raised. Volunteer firefighters and mountain rescue teams from Sulden responded alongside officers from the Guardia di Finanza Alpine Rescue in Schlanders, and rescue workers from nearby rescue stations. Two emergency helicopters, Pelikan 1 and Pelikan 3, assisted in the rescue and recovery efforts. Pelikan 1 retrieved the bodies of the three deceased and flew them to the nearby hospital, while Pelikan 3 continued operating at the avalanche site late into the evening.
The Italian Alpine Club confirmed that the victims were not South Tyroleans and are believed to be German nationals, though official identification has not yet been released. The three deceased were not carrying identification with them, so could not be immediately identified. Search operations continue for the two missing individuals, with rescuers warning that unstable snow conditions may hamper progress.
Sulden/Solda, located at 1,900 meters (6,200 feet) in northern Italy’s autonomous province of Bozen/Bolzano, is a well-known ski and mountaineering hub at the foot of the Ortler. The area attracts climbers and backcountry skiers throughout the year, but early-season snowfalls combined with fluctuating temperatures can make conditions treacherous.
South Tyrol police and CNSAS Alto-Adige have urged all mountain enthusiasts to exercise extreme caution in the coming days, noting that avalanche danger remains elevated across the Ortler Alps. Snow has fallen in recent days and strong winds have created unstable windslabs.
The situation is evolving and we will advise of any changes or updates as they become available. It is currently not clear if the two groups were climbing, or ski mountaineering.
