Slight Rise in Swiss Avalanche Fatalities

28th May 2024

Last modified on May 31st, 2024

There were 23 deaths last winter. The average annual number over the past 20 years is 21. Elsewhere in the Alps overall fatalities were down.

The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, SLF, has posted the figures pointing out that the end of the 2023/24 season saw a rise in incidents.

It came after large amounts of fresh snow in April and into May with some high winds and fluctuating temperatures.

There were 178 accidents across the winter in Switzerland with 261 people caught, and that resulted in 23 deaths.

Avalanche fatalities. Image c/o The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research

We reported on some of the recent fatalities in Switzerland on PlanetSKI:

“We have to bear in mind that we are receiving more and more reports of accidents with a less serious outcome,” said avalanche warning officer Benjamin Zweifel.

Avalanche incidents. Image c/o The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research

Last month on PlanetSKI we posted on fatalities elsewhere in the Alps:

Austria: 8
France: 13
Italy: 10

A total of 68 people last winter died in avalacnhes across all of Europe, including the Pyrenees, the Scandinavian Mountains, Apennine Mountains and Carpathian Mountains.