Five German climbers, including a 17-year-old girl and her father, have died after a devastating avalanche on Cima Vertana, a mountain in the Ortler Alps of South Tyrol, northern Italy. The incident occurred at approximately 4:00 PM local time (6:00 PM EAT) on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at an altitude of over 3,500 meters (11,500 feet).

The mountaineers were reportedly ascending in three separate, independent groups when the snowslide struck near the summit. According to Italy's national alpine rescue service, Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, one group of three climbers was completely swept away and buried by the snow, resulting in the deaths of two men and a woman. Their bodies were recovered later on Saturday.

In a second group, a father and his 17-year-old daughter were also carried away by the avalanche. An extensive search and rescue operation, which was suspended Saturday evening due to darkness and hazardous conditions, resumed on Sunday morning. Rescue teams, utilizing helicopters, drones, and thermal imaging, located the bodies of the father and daughter on Sunday, November 2. An Alpine rescue spokesperson, Federico Catania, confirmed to the Associated Press that they had been dragged into the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred.

Two other climbers from a third party managed to survive the incident. They were reportedly able to avoid the main path of the snowslide and raised the alarm, initiating the rescue efforts. The survivors were subsequently airlifted to a hospital in Bolzano, where they were treated for shock but were otherwise reported to be unharmed.

Rescue Efforts and Investigation

The rescue operation faced significant challenges, including worsening weather conditions at high altitude, low visibility, and fog, which initially delayed the use of helicopters on Sunday morning. Once conditions improved, rescuers and avalanche dog units were airlifted to an altitude of 2,600 meters before proceeding on foot to the accident site.

Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, told German media that the cause of the avalanche might have been recent snow drifts that had not properly bonded to the underlying ice layer, creating instability. Questions were also raised by rescue officials as to why the climbers were attempting to summit so late in the afternoon, which would have necessitated a descent in darkness. While weather conditions were generally reported as good at the time, the timing of the ascent has become a point of discussion in the aftermath.

Authorities have launched an inquiry to investigate the precise cause of the avalanche, examining factors such as snow stability and the decision-making processes of the climbing groups. The Ortler massif is a popular destination for experienced mountaineers, but the region is known for persistent avalanche risks. According to the Associated Press, Italy has one of the higher 10-year average annual death tolls from avalanches among major ski nations, with incidents increasing in recent years, potentially due to more people venturing into backcountry areas.

This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the inherent and unpredictable dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, even for experienced climbers in well-travelled areas. The incident has cast a somber shadow over the alpine community at the start of the winter season.