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Tragedy struck on Sunday when an avalanche claimed the lives of two skiers and injured another on a frequently traversed freeride path located on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif, near the French-Swiss boundary, authorities have confirmed.
The avalanche occurred during the morning hours, engulfing three skiers on the Couloir Vesses, a renowned off-piste trail in Courmayeur’s upper Val Veny, as reported by Italy’s Alpine Rescue and The Associated Press.
A swift response from search and rescue teams, which included 15 rescuers, three canine squads, and two helicopters, was initiated. One of the victims was airlifted to a medical facility in critical condition but, unfortunately, succumbed to injuries, the rescue agency reported.
In a separate incident, officials noted that another individual was partially trapped by an avalanche in Trentino but was successfully rescued by fellow skiers.
Released by the Italian Alpine Rescue, this image captures the avalanche in the Couloir Vesses that resulted in the deaths of two men on Sunday, February 15, 2026, in northern Italy’s upper Val Veny. (Image courtesy of Italian Alpine Rescue via AP)
The deadly slide comes amid a particularly dangerous stretch in the Italian Alps. Italy’s Alpine Rescue said last week that 13 backcountry skiers, climbers and hikers died in the Italian mountains in the week ending Feb. 8 – a record toll – with 10 of those deaths caused by avalanches linked to an unusually unstable snowpack.
Officials said recent storms have dumped fresh snow onto fragile underlying layers, while strong winds have created unstable drifts, producing hazardous conditions across the Alpine arc bordering France, Switzerland and Austria.
The main issue is caused by “persistent weak layers in the snowy cloak, often covered by fresh snow or wind, conditions that make detachments unpredictable and easily triggered even by the passing of a single skier or alpinist,” the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps said. “The dangerous points are many and difficult to identify, even for an expert.”
Vigili del Fuoco crew members conducts a helicopter rescue over a snow-covered mountain area. (Vigili del Fuoco)
Federico Catania, a spokesperson for Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps, said recent snowstorms have drawn visitors eager to take advantage of fresh slopes, “and as a result, the number of accidents, and therefore fatalities, has increased proportionally,” The AP reported.
Courmayeur, a town of roughly 2,900 residents, sits about 200 kilometers – or 124 miles – northwest of Milan, a host city for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The incidents occurred as the Winter Olympics were kicking off in the region on Feb. 6.
Two Vigili del Fuoco crew members stand inside a helicopter next to an open door during a snowy mountain operation. Â (Vigili del Fuoco)
Authorities stressed that competition sites – located in Lombardy near the Swiss border, Cortina d’Ampezzo in Veneto and Val di Fiemme in Trentino – remain safe, well-maintained and closely monitored.
“There is no danger for people skiing within managed ski resorts, and, in particular, no risks to the Olympic sites,” Catania said previously. “All of these areas are constantly monitored and are generally safe regardless of Olympic events.”
Prior to the start of the Winter Olympics, Vigili del Fuoco said crews would maintain safety measures for all visitors to the sites.