Avalanches have caused 23 deaths in Switzerland since October 1, a little more than the average of the last 20 years.
Over the past two decades, there have been an average of 21 deaths during the winter season, the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Studies (SLF) said on Sunday. The number of people caught in an avalanche during the winter of 2023/2024 (261) is also higher than the average of the last 20 years, which is around 220.
“However, we must take into account the fact that minor accidents are being reported to us more and more often,” notes Benjamin Zweifel, avalanche specialist, quoted by the Keystone-ATS agency.
But, if we compare the number of victims to the increasing number of people practicing activities in the mountains in winter, the statistics show that the risk of accidents has decreased.
For Mr. Zweifel, this is a sign that many winter sports enthusiasts are exercising caution. According to him, the improvement in equipment for winter sports enthusiasts has also contributed to the reduction in risk.
Emergency equipment such as avalanche victim detectors (AVDs), shovels, probes and even airbags have greatly improved, as have weather forecasts.
The avalanche with the most victims – four – this winter season occurred off-piste near Zermatt on April 1, according to SLF statistics. It cost the lives of a 15-year-old American teenager, a woman and a man of Canadian nationality, aged 25 and 30, and a 58-year-old Swiss man. A young Swiss man was seriously injured.
Climate change also plays a role on the profile of avalanches, with snow frequently lacking at medium altitudes. “Accidents therefore tend to occur at higher altitudes than before,” comments Benjamin Zweifel.
