Avalanche
A massive avalanche broke loose Tuesday afternoon near the Furgghorn, just outside the famed resort town of Zermatt, prompting an intensive rescue response. Despite initial fears that skiers or snowboarders may have been caught in the slide, Air Zermatt reports that no victims were found.
The avalanche measured several hundred meters wide, with an outlet zone stretching roughly 1,000 feet (about 300 meters). The slide followed days of heavy snowfall in the region, which destabilized the snowpack and released a deep layer estimated by locals to be around 6 feet (2 meters) thick. Reports indicate the avalanche likely broke from a weak layer that had formed six days before the latest storms hit the southern Alps.
Fearing that off-piste skiers might have been swept up, the cantonal Valais rescue organization KWRO (emergency number 144) activated a large-scale emergency response. Around 20 rescue personnel were dispatched, including avalanche dog handlers and specialists from Air Zermatt and Air-Glaciers, who were flown into the area via three helicopters.
After several hours of intensive search operations using specialized equipment and search dogs, the all-clear was given. No injuries or fatalities were reported. The avalanche shows the questionable stability of the snowpack in the southern Swiss Alps after recent storms at a time of the season when conditions are typically stabilizing. Authorities are continuing to warn backcountry travelers to remain cautious and stay within marked trails.
