Avalanche accidents in Italy

Season 2011-2012

photo: Valgrisenche, 20 apr 2012

2011-2012: poor in snow; less accidents than usual

Italian Alps: winter very poor in snow, till April.

Good or very good quantities only in the borders with France, Switzerland and Austria (the places where the majority of avalanche

accidents occurred)

AUTONOME PROVINZ BOZEN - SÜDTIROL PROVINCIA AUTONOMA DI BOLZANO - ALTO ADIGE

AUTONOME PROVINZ BOZEN - SÜDTIROL PROVINCIA AUTONOMA DI BOLZANO - ALTO ADIGE

Emilia Romagna region in 10 days of snow (beginning of February): up to 300 cm of snow at an altitude of 280 m above the sea

Adriatic sea

Tirrenian sea

The Apennines

Civil Protection and Army

Avalanche fatalities in Italy 1986-2012In Italy on average there are 13 avalanche fatalities each season

Avalanche victims in Italy 1986-2012In Italy on average (linear media) 18 persons die every year in avalanche fatalities

1

1

52 Victims in Italy by Regions –

season 2011/2012

Avalanche accidents rate by category in Italy 2011-2012

Backcountry skiing 67%

9 victims:

4 backcountry skiing 1 beacon broken during falling and 1 beacon

not working (turned off?)

2 freeride (heliskiing)

3 alpinism all without beacon

Avalanche victims by category2011-2012

Avalanche accidents and professionals – 2011-2012:

7 avalanche accidents (17%) with professionals involved (directly or with clients involved):

6 accidents Mountain guides and Ski instructors

1 accident Mountain hut guardian

Avalanche accidents and foreign people – 2011-2012:

13 avalanche accidents (31%) with foreigns involved:

mainly German and Switzerland,

then Austrian, French, Spanish, Danish, Belgian

Avalanche airbag2011-2012

2 Heliski accidents:

1 airbag deployed: 1 client heliski, totally buried, companion rescue with transceiver (dead for trauma)

1 airbag deployed and 1 airbag not deployed:• 1st client, airbag deployed, not buried, uninjured• 2nd client: airbag not deployed, totally buried (30-40 cm),

dead for asphyxia after 20 minutescamera on helmet: not try to deploy airbag and wearing the strap of ski poles

survival under the avalanche:

1 backcountry skier alone:

to "escape" from the strong and cold winds, moves to a SW slope and triggers the single slab in an area poor in snow. The blocks are very compact: a lot of air available and is well dressed (was descending), protected from the wind and the cold.

Found alive (slightly injured) after 4 hours and 5 minutes

for further informations: aineva@aineva.it

Photo: Aosta Valley, Mont Blanc area 17 feb 2012

40° - 45°

cable car