Regional authorities in the Aosta Valley confirmed on Monday that the bodies of two Romanian climbers were located in the Gran Paradiso massif within the Italian Alps. The individuals, whose names and ages have not been released, had been the subject of an intensive search effort since they failed to make contact after departing a mountain refuge on July 9.
According to reports from ANSA, rescuers determined that the pair died after falling into a crevasse. Following several days of helicopter operations, the bodies were discovered Monday morning at the bottom of a crevasse estimated to be about 65 feet deep. The Gran Paradiso massif, which reaches 4,061 meters, is situated within Italy's oldest national park.
Mountain accidents remain a significant concern in Italy. Data from the Italian National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) reported 528 fatalities related to mountain accidents in 2025, marking a 13% increase from the 466 deaths recorded in 2024. Earlier this year, the region experienced a particularly tragic week where 13 backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers lost their lives, including 10 victims of avalanches. Additionally, in November 2025, an avalanche in South Tyrol claimed the lives of five German mountaineers, including a man and his teenage daughter.
