Avalanche in Valtellina, one man and one woman dead

Two people died after being swept away by an avalanche on the south-west slope of Monte Cornaccia, in the Valdidentro area, in Valtellina. According to information from the Areu, the victims are a man and a woman, who are still being identified. The Alpine Rescue, the Sondrio Fire Brigade and two rescue helicopters that took off from Sondrio and Bergamo were involved.

The accident happened around 10.30 a.m. on Monte Cornaccia, in the area of the Cancano lakes on the Swiss border. The victims, a 25-year-old man and a woman aged between 20 and 30, were ski-touring when they were swept away and killed by an avalanche. Rescuers were alerted by a third ski mountaineer who survived and was only assessed on the spot by rescuers without the need for hospitalisation.

The third ski mountaineer explained that he had seen an avalanche release from the south-west face of the mountain. The huge mass of ice allegedly swept the two boys away, while he managed to stay on the outside of the avalanche front. The man, who was examined on the spot, is in good health and did not need to be transported to hospital.