Avalanche Kills 4 Skiers in Switzerland | 25 Swiss Avy Deaths This Winter

Four Italian skiers were killed in an avalanche on very popular Great Saint Bernard Pass in Switzerland on Saturday, February 21st, 2015.  

Two women and two men from Milan, Italy were killed in the avalanche while a fifth skier was injured.  All the skiers involved in the avalanche were either 51 or 52 years old.

The avalanche occurred at 2,300 meters, was 100 meters wide, ran 300-vertical-meters and buried the skiers up to 2.5 meters deep.  30 rescuers were involved in the operation.  The avalanche danger at the time of the avalanche was rated as “Moderate” or 2 out of 5.  All the skiers had avalanche gear.

These latest deaths bring the avalanche death toll in Switzerland to 25 this winter.  

Over 80 people have died in avalanche in Europe this winter.

Learn more about avalanches here:

SnowBrains Avalanche