More Avalanche Deaths in Europe
6th April 2026
Last modified on April 8th, 2026
There were three fatalities in Switzerland over the Easter weekend and one in Austria. Two died in Norway, one in the French Pyrenees and another in Greenland. The number of avalanche deaths in Europe this winter rises to 142. The annual average is around 100. UPDATED
Last winter 70 people died in avalanches across Europe.
The last time it was this high was in 2017/18, when there were 147 fatalities.
In the lastest incidents a 35-year-old man was buried by an avalanche on a slope near Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland on Good Friday.
The avalanche occurred on the Schwarzbirg in Isenfluh.
Two people were on a descent when a snow slab broke loose.
Other skiers in the area were able to locate the buried victim, dig him out and provide first aid.
However, after attempting resuscitation, the emergency services were ultimately only able to determine that the 35-year-old Bernese man had died, the police said in a statement.
In another incident a mountaineer died on the Gross Mythen in central Switzerland after being swept down a rock face by an avalanche.
Two young men hiked from Brunni in the direction of Holzegg on Good Friday morning, according to the Schwyz cantonal police.
From there, equipped with ropes, they set off on the hiking trail towards the summit of the Gross Mythen.
Due to the considerable amount of snow, they abandoned their tour shortly before 2pm.
On the descent, the mountaineers were caught up in the avalanche.
The identity of the deceased person has not been released.
In the third incident a 41-year-old man died in an avalanche in Sangernboden in the canton of Bern on Good Friday.
The avalanche occurred at around 12.15 p.m. in Sangernboden in the municipality of Rüschegg, as reported by the Bern cantonal police on Saturday.
The snowboarder was on the descent towards the Gantrischhütte when a snow slab broke loose on the north-east side of the Bürgle.
The man was swept away by the avalanche and buried.
The emergency services were immediately called out and were only able to recover the man dead,
The deceased was a 41-year-old Swiss man from the canton of Fribourg.
The fourth Easter victim was caught in Austria.
The 40-year-old man had been skiing on the slopes of Plattenspitze mountain in the Salzburg region when the avalanche struck on Good Friday.
Rescuers helicoptered to the site on Saturday found the body under 2m of snow, police said.
There have been further avalanche deaths over Easter in Europe away from the Alps.
Two skiers died on Easter Monday as an avalanche struck a group near the resort of Hemsedal in Norway.
Four people were caught in the avalanche, and one of them was missing for about an hour before being located, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Police said the two victims were a woman in her 20s and a man in his 30s.
There was a Level 3 (considerable) risk of avalanche at the time.
Official warning information said wind-drifted snow was the main avalanche problem in the area.
Next of kin have been notified and are being assisted by the municipality’s crisis response team.
In the French Pyrenees one skier has died in an avalanche in Pyrenean commune of Val-de-Sos.
A 40-year-old skier died on the Pique d’Endron near the border with Spain on Saturday.
The skier was on his own and it believed he triggered the avalanche.
It was classified as Size 4 avalanche, the highest classification on the European scale.
The avalanche traveled 600m.
The victim came from near Toulouse.
This winter, since October 1st, 142 people have died in avalanches in Europe.
- Italy – 38
- France – 32
- Austria – 30
- Switzerland – 18
- Spain – 8
- Slovakia – 6
- Slovenia – 3
- Norway – 3
- Andorra – 2
- Poland – 1
- Greenland – 1
There have been no recorded fatalities in The Czech Republic, Iceland, Sweden and Scotland.
The danger has not been easy to recognise, even for experts.
The vast majority of victims were caught in wind slab avalanches or collapses linked to persistent weak layers buried deep within the snow, often triggered by skiers after fresh downfalls.
We have reported on the accidents on PlanetSKI across the winter:
- Eight skiers die in avalanches in Austria in one day
- 13 year old boy is latest avalanche fatality
- More avalanches in the Alps with ‘high’ risk in places
- Three dead in avalanches in France
Most occurred in a concentrated 2-month period from late December to late February.
In France 30 of the 32 total fatalities were between 26th December and 22nd February.
Variations in avalanche fatalities are very weather dependent.
What is notable this winter is the number of experienced skiers caught – ski patrollers, guides, off piste instructors, experienced ski tourers and members of alpine clubs.
As winter draws to a close the risk remains.
Image c/o Swiss Institute for Snow & Avalanche Research.
April sees the start of the main ski touring season and the authorities advise caution.
Val Thorens/Orelle, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Update:
A 17-year-old boy was killed, and two other people were taken to hospital after an avalanche in Greenland caught a group of out on snowmobiles.
The accident happened in Qassi, a mountain located near the capital of Nuuk, on Saturday April 4th.
Geographically, Greenland is part of the North American continent.
However, it is politically and culturally associated with Europe, as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
While technically in North America, its ties to Denmark make it geopolitically considered part of Europe.
Related Articles:
- ‘To ski or not to ski?’ – that is the question
- New research shows avalanches are starting faster
- Avalanches help glaciers survive
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