Avalanche in Italian Dolomites Kills Five German Climbers

An avalanche in the Ortler Alps of Italy’s Dolomite mountains claimed the lives of five German climbers yesterday, including a 17-year-old girl and her father.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:00 PM local time on Saturday as the mountaineers were scaling Cima Vertana, also known as Vertainspitze, a 3,545-meter (11,630ft) peak. Italy’s Alpine rescue service, Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, reported that a group of three climbers was completely overtaken by the snowslide and did not survive. Separately, the father and daughter were also caught in the avalanche, and their bodies were recovered today.

Two climbers from a third party managed to survive and raised the alarm, initiating the rescue operation. Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, explained to German media that recent snow drifts, which had not properly bonded to the underlying ice, likely triggered the avalanche. He also questioned the timing of the climb, noting, “Climbing tours were popular and the weather conditions were good, but wondered why the mountaineers were climbing late in the afternoon, as the descent would have then taken until nightfall.” The Dolomites are a popular destination for climbers and hikers, but are also prone to avalanches, particularly during periods of fluctuating temperatures and snowfall.

Rescue efforts were hampered by poor visibility and fog, delaying helicopter deployment until conditions improved this morning. Rescuers and avalanche dog teams were then airlifted to 2,600 meters before continuing the search on foot, ultimately locating the bodies of the missing father and daughter. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.