Five German Climbers Killed in Northern Italy Avalanche

Five German mountaineers were killed after being swept up by an avalanche in South Tyrol, northern Italy, on Saturday, November 1. According to Italian Alpine rescue authorities, the group was climbing near Cima Vertana (Vertainspitze) in the Ortles Mountains, a 3,500-meter peak (≈11,500 feet), when the slide released around 4 p.m.

Three victims—two men and a woman—were recovered dead on Saturday evening. The bodies of the remaining two, a father and his 17-year-old daughter, were found the following morning. Two other climbers survived and were airlifted to a hospital in Bolzano.

The mountaineers were reportedly climbing in three independent teams when the avalanche triggered above them. Rescue operations involved multiple agencies, including the Solda Alpine Rescue station, firefighters, and drone units, and were coordinated under the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS).

While the exact cause of the slide remains under investigation, rescuers cited the combination of late-day timing, steep terrain, and fresh snow as potential factors. The group’s presence high on the face around dusk surprised officials familiar with the mountain.

"But why in the afternoon? My dad always told me that when there's snow, you have to come back before the afternoon, one Italian commenter wrote.

South Tyrol lies just south of the Austrian border. The zone is a magnet for German and Italian climbers alike. Its high peaks, glaciers, and accessible huts make it one of Europe’s most popular mountaineering destinations. But as we know, popularity doesn't mean safety. Avalanches are a persistent hazard in the area.

The South Tyrol slide follows a troubling pattern of deadly avalanches across the Alps and beyond in recent months.

According to Italy’s AINEVA avalanche service, the country averages among the highest annual avalanche fatalities in Europe.

In January 2025, three ski mountaineers were killed on Punta Valgrande in Italy’s Piedmont region when a slab avalanche released during their ascent. Despite a moderate hazard forecast, a steep, wind-loaded face produced a catastrophic outcome.

Related: Avalanche Aware: Free Online Avalanche Safety Course

While details are still emerging from South Tyrol, the scenario offers critical reminders for climbers and ski mountaineers alike:

1. Timing Matters. Starting early and getting off steep, solar-affected slopes by midday is one of the simplest ways to avoid late-day instabilities. The Cima Vertana party was still climbing at 4 p.m., when refreezing snow and shifting winds often create variable conditions.

2. Terrain Traps Kill. The victims were found in a gully, where even a small slide can funnel into a narrow, inescapable run-out zone. Gullies, couloirs, and depressions concentrate debris, making burial depths far greater than in open terrain.

3. Moderate Doesn’t Mean Safe. Avalanche bulletins mirror five danger levels, but a light forecast can still be deadly. Around 50 percent of all avalanche deaths occur during “Moderate” (Level 2) conditions. Stability ratings are regional averages, not guarantees.

4. Groups and Gear. Beacons, shovels, probes, and airbags remain critical. But as rescue data repeatedly show, the most effective survival tool is a partner capable of immediate response.

5. High Traffic Doesn’t Equal Security. South Tyrol’s well-developed infrastructure and rescue network can create a false sense of safety. Yet avalanches remain the leading cause of accidental death in the Italian Alps.

Avalanches don’t discriminate by experience, nationality, or discipline. They remain one of the few hazards in mountain sport that cannot be completely mitigated, only managed.

As the season ramps up and fresh snow draws more people into the high mountains, the tragedy in South Tyrol serves as a painful reminder: the mountains are powerful, unpredictable, and deserving of respect.

Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy.