2 skiers killed in avalanche on popular Mont Blanc skiing route near French-Swiss border

Fox News - WorldCenter-RightEN 2 min read 100% complete by Greg WehnerFebruary 16, 2026 at 12:00 AM

AI Summary

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Two skiers died and another was injured in an avalanche on Sunday along the Couloir Vesses, a popular off-piste route on the Italian side of Mont Blanc near the French-Swiss border. The avalanche swept up three skiers, prompting a search and rescue operation involving 15 rescuers, canine units, and helicopters. The incident occurred amid a particularly dangerous period in the Italian Alps, with 13 backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers dying in the week ending February 8, ten of those deaths caused by avalanches. Authorities attribute the increased avalanche risk to recent storms that deposited fresh snow onto unstable underlying layers, combined with strong winds creating hazardous drifts. The incidents occurred as the Winter Olympics were kicking off in the region.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Milan 40% Lombardy 40% Trentino 50% Federico Catania 50% Val Veny 60% Courmayeur ×270% France 70% Switzerland ×270% Alpine Rescue ×270% Italian Alps ×280% Italy ×480% Mont Blanc 90%

Keywords

avalanche 100% skiers 80% fatalities 70% italian alps 70% rescue operations 60% unstable snowpack 60% hazardous conditions 50% off-piste 50% mont blanc 40% winter olympics 40%