- An avalanche near Courmayeur, Italy, sent skiers fleeing as it swept toward a chairlift area.
- A viral video captured the dramatic slide, raising concerns about safety in the region.
- The Courmayeur area remains on high alert after a recent avalanche claimed three lives.
COURMAYEUR, ITALY — A powerful avalanche tore down a mountainside near the resort town of Courmayeur this week, sending skiers running as a churning cloud of snow and debris swept toward a chairlift area — a dramatic moment captured on widely shared video.
Viral Video Shows Skiers Caught In A Sudden Snow Blast
Footage circulating online shows a large slide racing downhill near the Zerotta chairlift area in Val Veny, with groups of skiers watching from below before turning to flee as the avalanche’s powder plume spreads across the slope. It was not immediately clear from official statements whether anyone in that specific incident was injured, and investigators have continued reviewing the circumstances shown in the video.
Deadly Off-Piste Avalanche In The Same Area Claimed Three Lives
The viral clip surfaced as the Courmayeur region remains on edge following a separate, fatal off-trail avalanche days earlier in the Couloir dei Vesses (also in upper Val Veny), where three skiers ultimately died after being caught in the slide. Search-and-rescue teams responded with helicopters, dog units, and ground crews during the recovery effort.
High Avalanche Risk Triggers New Warnings Across The Alps
Rescue officials have repeatedly warned that fresh snowfall over weak internal layers has created unstable conditions in parts of the Alps, increasing the risk of slides — particularly off-piste and in freeride routes. In recent days, authorities in multiple regions have urged skiers to avoid hazardous terrain and follow resort safety guidance.
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