Advertisement

Swiss avalanches claim 248 lives over ten years

Malcolm Curtis
Malcolm Curtis - [email protected]
Swiss avalanches claim 248 lives over ten years
Picture shows how slabs of snow can break off layers of weak snowpack. Photo: J. Appel/WLS

Close to 250 people have died in avalanches in Switzerland over the past decade, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Since the winter of 2004-05 a total of 248 deaths have been registered in connection with snow slides in the Swiss mountains, the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research said.

Almost 40 percent of the fatalities occurred in the canton of Valais (107), followed by Graubünden (69) and Bern (31).

The issue avalanche safety has come into sharp focus this past week with 12 people falling victim to snow slides in a five-day period, including eight on Saturday alone.

The latest accident occurred on Monday in the canton of Graubünden when an avalanche buried a 51-year-old skier above Disentis in the Val Segnas area of the Alps.

A group of “freeriders” in the area attempted to dig him out but he was dead by the time he was found, cantonal police said.

The 2014-2015 winter season is en route to being one of the most deadly on record with 20 fatalities already registered.

The worst season in the past decade was in 2009-2010 when 29 deaths were recorded.

On average, 22 people die in Swiss avalanches annually and 107 perish across Europe’s mountains.

More than half of the deadly accidents in Switzerland occur on the north side of mountains, where the most back-country skiers go, the WLS institute said.

Experts for the past week have highlighted the dangers of avalanches throughout the Swiss Alps and in parts of the Jura Mountains following heavy snowfall in the regions.

Between 60 and 130 centimetres of fresh snow fell on a fragile base leading to instability in some areas.

Back country skiers are tempted into risky areas by the promise of cruising in fresh, untouched powder.


But when off-piste conditions are unpredictable, experts advise that it is better to stay on patrolled runs, where conditions are good following significant snowfall.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also