Switzerland records 23 avalanche deaths in winter 2023/2024
Published: Sunday, May 26th 2024, 09:51
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A slightly above-average number of people have died in avalanches in the Swiss Alps this winter. According to the Swiss Federal Avalanche Research Institute, a total of 23 people have died in avalanches since October.
Over the last 20 years, there has been an average of 21 avalanche victims per year in Switzerland, as the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) informed the Keystone-SDA news agency on request.
According to the SLF, the number of people caught in avalanches for the winter of 2023/2024 is also above the average of the last 20 years, which is around 220, at 261. "However, we have to bear in mind that we are also receiving more and more reports of minor accidents," said avalanche warning officer Benjamin Zweifel. The number of unreported accidents is therefore becoming smaller and smaller.
More winter sports enthusiasts, same number of deaths
The number of avalanche deaths has remained stable over the last 20 years. However, according to the SLF, the number of people moving around in the mountains in winter has increased. The risk of accidents has therefore decreased overall.
For Zweifel, this is a sign that many winter sports enthusiasts are exercising caution. According to Zweifel, improved equipment for winter sports enthusiasts has also contributed to the reduced risk. Major improvements have been achieved with emergency equipment such as avalanche transceivers, shovels, avalanche probes and additional equipment such as avalanche airbags. The avalanche forecast has also improved.
Displacement at higher altitudes
Avalanche activity in Switzerland is changing due to climate change. On average, there is less snow at medium altitudes and it is also raining more and more often in high winter, even at high altitudes. "Accidents therefore tend to happen at higher altitudes than before," said Zweifel.
In principle, however, avalanche conditions are very strongly linked to the meteorological and associated snowpack conditions, the SLF continues. These patterns have not changed fundamentally, and the avalanche problems are the same as before.
©Keystone/SDA
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