A tragic avalanche struck in the Dolomite mountains of Italy, resulting in the deaths of five climbers, including a 17-year-old girl and her father. The incident took place on Cima Vertana in the Ortler Alps as the mountaineers were scaling the mountain around 16:00 local time on Saturday. According to Italy's Alpine rescue service, Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, a group of three climbers was swept away entirely by the avalanche. The bodies of the father and daughter were recovered the following day.
The climbers were reported to be traveling in separate groups when the avalanche occurred. An alarm was raised by the two survivors of a third group, prompting a rescue operation, which faced delays due to fog and dwindling daylight. Once conditions improved, rescuers used dogs and helicopters to locate the missing climbers.
Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, indicated that the avalanche might have resulted from recent snow drifts that hadn't bonded with underlying layers of ice. He expressed concern about the timing of the climbers' ascent, noting that descending the mountain after dark could pose significant risks. The incident has spurred discussions in the mountaineering community regarding safety measures and appropriate climbing times.
The climbers were reported to be traveling in separate groups when the avalanche occurred. An alarm was raised by the two survivors of a third group, prompting a rescue operation, which faced delays due to fog and dwindling daylight. Once conditions improved, rescuers used dogs and helicopters to locate the missing climbers.
Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, indicated that the avalanche might have resulted from recent snow drifts that hadn't bonded with underlying layers of ice. He expressed concern about the timing of the climbers' ascent, noting that descending the mountain after dark could pose significant risks. The incident has spurred discussions in the mountaineering community regarding safety measures and appropriate climbing times.
