Slight decrease: 14 avalanche deaths so far this winter

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So far this winter, 14 people have died due to avalanches in the mountains. The number of deaths was therefore slightly below the long-term average of 17 deaths. Most of the victims were ski tourists. Fourteen people died in twelve avalanche accidents, according to preliminary winter results released Wednesday by the WSL Snow and Avalanche Research Institute (SLF) in Davos.

In one accident, a worker working in a quarry lost his life, and in another accident, a skier was buried on an open piste. According to SLF, the remaining twelve deaths occurred on unsafe terrain: eight on ski touring, four on off-piste runs. Three accidents occurred in December 2023, one each in January and February, and seven in March 2024.

Above average number of minor accidents

A total of 190 people were affected by the avalanche, which is a higher than average number, according to SLF. Therefore, the number of avalanches with mild results was above average. However, the research institute admitted that smaller avalanche accidents are also being reported to the SLF with increasing frequency.

According to SLF, the winter of 2023/2024 was generally quite mild. While the snow depth was above average at high altitudes, significantly less snow fell at medium and low altitudes compared to the long-term average. “White on top, green on the bottom,” SLF wrote.

2300 sliding snow avalanche

Experts described the winter as a “floating snow avalanche winter”. A total of 2,300 sliding snow avalanches were reported to SLF. For comparison: Last winter there were only 293.

According to the SLF, sliding snow avalanches are less dangerous to winter sports enthusiasts than dry sheet avalanches because they cannot be triggered by humans. However, these pose a major challenge for ski resorts or road safety services as they can endanger roads or ski slopes for long periods of time.

Avalanche experts counted the fewest deaths in 60 years, with five deaths in the winter of 2019/2020. However, Switzerland suffered a disastrous winter in 1951 with 91 avalanche deaths, 75 of which occurred between 19 and 21 January alone. (SDA)

Source : Blick