An avalanche struck the Courmayeur ski resort in the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy on Sunday, February 15, 2026, reportedly sweeping several skiers off piste. Authorities have confirmed the recovery of four bodies, according to reports from The Guardian and BBC News.
The avalanche occurred near Courmayeur, a popular destination for off-piste skiing, and prompted an immediate search and rescue operation. Initial reports indicated that three skiers were initially missing, but the search has now yielded the bodies of four individuals. The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
The incident follows a period of fluctuating avalanche risk in the Alps. Even as conditions had improved in some French resorts, leading to the reopening of ski areas, as reported by PlanetSKI, the situation in Italy remained precarious. The Courmayeur area had experienced significant snowfall in the days leading up to the avalanche, contributing to unstable snow conditions.
The search operation involved mountain rescue teams, helicopters, and specialized avalanche dogs. The recovery of the four bodies brings a somber complete to the initial phase of the operation, though investigations into the cause of the avalanche are ongoing.
News of the Courmayeur avalanche comes after a separate avalanche incident in the same region earlier this month, where three people died, as reported by SeeChamonix.com. This latest event underscores the inherent risks associated with backcountry and off-piste skiing, even in well-established resorts.
Italian authorities have not yet released a statement regarding potential safety reviews or changes to avalanche risk assessments in the Courmayeur area. The investigation into the cause of the avalanche is expected to continue in the coming days.
