Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 2, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
Avalanches in Italy's Alps killed two and injured several. Rescue efforts are hindered by strong winds, with incidents in Piedmont and Veneto.
ROME, Jan 2 (Reuters) - A series of avalanches in the Italian Alps killed two people and injured several others on Friday, with strong winds hampering the rescue operations, rescuers said.
A first avalanche hit the southwest Alpine Maira Valley, near the French border in the Italian region of Piedmont, killing one person and injuring two others, Alpine Rescue (Soccorso Alpino) said. One of them is in critical condition.
Rescue teams set out on foot from lower altitudes after the strong winds prevented helicopter crews from reaching the site, the organisation said in a statement.
A second avalanche occurred near Pragelato, a popular ski destination about 60 km (37 miles) west of Turin.
A woman caught in the avalanche managed to free herself but was unable to move because of injuries. Rescue teams were working to evacuate her, with helicopters again limited by adverse weather conditions.
Authorities said they were monitoring reports of a third avalanche in Piedmont, but details were not immediately available.
Separately, in the northeastern Italian region of Veneto, an avalanche on the Vajo Gabene slope in the Small Dolomites killed a 50-year-old ski mountaineer, Italian news agency ANSA said.
Rescue teams reached him by helicopter but were unable to save him.
A combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds has raised avalanche risks across the Alps in recent days, prompting warnings for skiers and hikers.
Local officials urged caution and advised against off-piste excursions as conditions remain unstable.
(Reporting by Matteo Negri, writing by Giselda VagnoniEditing by Gareth Jones)
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, which can be triggered by factors like heavy snowfall or strong winds. They pose significant risks to skiers and hikers in mountainous regions.
Risk management involves identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks followed by coordinated efforts to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events.
Insurance is a financial product that provides protection against financial loss or risk. It involves the transfer of risk from an individual or business to an insurance company.
Investment is the act of allocating resources, usually money, to generate income or profit. This can include purchasing stocks, bonds, real estate, or other assets.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
