2 Skiers Killed in Avalanche Near Site of 2026 Winter Olympics

Two skiers have been killed, and another injured, in an avalanche at an Italian luxury resoort nearby the location of the 2026 Winter Olympics, theAssociated Press reported.

Tragedy Strikes Italian Ski Resort

The tragedy occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 15, Sunday, Feb. 15, in Courmayeur, which is located in the northern part of Italy, about 135 miles from the Olympic Games in Milan. The skiers, whose identities have not been publicly disclosed, were reportedly off-piste at the time of the avalanche, meaning they were skiing off of the prescribed trail. Fifteen rescuers, along with three canine units and two helicopters, responded to the scene.

The event marks a grim landmark for Italy, with 12 people perishing in the Italian Alps so far this month alone. Eleven of those people were killed in avalanches. Officials from Alpine Rescue called the death count “a tragic toll that reminds us how critical and treacherous the current snowpack situation is.”

'Persistent Weak Layers' of the Snow Are to Blame

According to officials, the “main problem” in each of the fatal cases throughout Fberuary has been “persistent weak layers in the snowpack, often covered by fresh or wind-blown snow — conditions that make avalanches unpredictable and easily triggered even by the passage of a single skier or mountaineer.” 

“There are many dangerous spots, and they are difficult to identify, even for experienced people,” they added.

Alpine Rescue encouraged skiers to choose “conservative routes” and to “always carry an avalanche transceiver” along with a “shovel and probe (and be sure you know how to use them)…When doubt is high, turning back isn’t just a choice — it is the choice: waiting for better conditions makes the difference.”