European Avalanche Death Toll Rises to 121
24th February 2026
Last modified on March 1st, 2026
There have been further fatalities in Italy. The annual average toll in Europe is around 100. So, why has this winter been so deadly? UPDATED
In the latest incident two ski mountaineers were killed in Italy after being hit by an avalanche.
Marika Mascherona, 28, and Alberto De Maron, 27, were swept to their deaths on the southwest face of Mount Cornaccia in Valdidentro.
A third ski mountaineer, who witnessed the tragedy and called for help, was treated at the scene but did not need hospital treatment.
Italy has now seen 32 deaths from avalanches, the highest in Europe.
One of the latest avalanches in the Alps, that caught skiers, happened in Flegere in Chamonix as a slide went across the piste and hit three skiers.
It happened near the Floria T-bar at 1:30pm last Tuesday.
All escaped, but needed to be treated for injuries.
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A large search operation was launched, but no further victims were found.
Flegere avalanche. Image c/o Flegere ski patrol.
Flegere avalanche. Image c/o Flegere ski patrol.
The high number of avalanches this season is caused by a series of heavy storms with large amounts of snow falling on a highly unstable snow pack where the bonding is very weak.
What is unusual is that this winter it is over large parts of the Alps and not just in a few isolated places.
Avalanche in Tignes. Image c/o David Morgan.
Italy has seen 32 deaths so fat this winter
France has seen 30 fatalities and the annual average for around this time of year in France is 10.
Austria has had 24 deahts and Switzerland 15.
Last winter in Europe there were 70 fatalities, and 87 in 2023-24.
In the 2020-21 season 131 people died and in 2017-18 the figure was 147.
It should be noted that the number of avalanche deaths fluctuates widely from year to year depending on the overall stability of the snowpack.
The avalanche fatalities are currently within their historical range of variability.
In a typical European winter 69 to 140 people will die in avalanches so the current number is within expectations.
There is though, a long way to go to the end of the season with most resorts shutting in April and some going into May.
There is a busy ski touring season into Spring.
There is no firm evidence to suggest climate change is increasing the number of avalanches.
New research from Swiss scientists suggest that avalanches are starting faster than previously thought with cracks accelerating across the slopes more quickly.
It was assumed that such cracks spread at speeds of between 20 and 80 metres per second.
The new research concludes the propagation speed increased from 50 to 130 metres per second.
SLF researchers have now demonstrated that cracks spread faster than expected, even exceeding the previously assumed theoretical boundaries for this process in snow.
This then causes a wide area of a slope to slide.
We have posted the full details here:
Most fatal avalanches are started by skiers and snowboarders themselves, and are not spontaneous.
They go over unstable snow and act as a trigger.
The high number is also being fuelled by the behaviour of a minority of skiers and snowboarders who are simply not heeding the warnings.
Others perhaps do not understand the dangers, and it is surprising how many people who have died were skiing near a piste rather than deep in the back country.
Many probably had no real idea of the danger they were putting themselves in as they headed for a few powder turns just a short traverse away from the marked piste.
99% of avalanche deaths are avoidable if one has knowledge, experience and follows the advice from the authorities if one ventures away from the marked slopes.
Last week two female off piste skiers were killed in the Abondance Valley in France.
They died on Sunday, but the alert was not raised until Monday when the women failed to arrive for work.
Their vehicle was found in a car park at the bottom of a popular ski touring route.
The authorities discovered a heavy, wet snow slide 200m long, 50m wide and 2m deep below the Dent du Chat that had buried the women.
Recently a 52-year-old man from the Netherlands died in the Austrian resort of Zell am Ziller.
He was skiing with his wife and daughter who were on the marked trails and when he failed to arrive at a pre-arranged meeting point this wife contacted the authorities.
He was found buried in the snow and was taken to hospital where he later died.
In the Swiss resort of Verbier in a 22-year-old man died while skiing off piste on a west facing slope at an altitude of 2,648m.
Two rescue helicopters were deployed, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The avalanche risk in the ski area at the time was 3+
Off piste skiing can be safely undertaken under the present conditions, but knowledge and experience are required.
See here for some thoughts from the PlanetSKI editor, James Cove.
James Cove. Image © PlanetSKI
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