TL;DR
Three Basque Country ski mountaineers have died in an avalanche on Pico Tablato near Panticosa Spa in the Spanish Pyrenees. The group of six was caught in a slab avalanche at 2,700 metres altitude. One survivor remains in critical condition with severe hypothermia while two escaped unharmed. The avalanche risk was rated level 3 (considerable) at the time.
Three ski mountaineers from Spain's Basque Country have died after being caught in an avalanche while ascending Pico Tablato near Panticosa Spa in the Aragonese Pyrenees, with a fourth member fighting for life in hospital.
The group of six was struck by a large slab avalanche around midday at an altitude of 2,700 metres. Two men and one woman were killed, while a fourth member was rescued with severe hypothermia and transferred to San Jorge Hospital in Huesca where they remain in a critical condition.
The remaining two members of the expedition escaped unharmed and were able to alert emergency services around 1:00pm local time.
What Happened on Pico Tablato
The group was on a ski mountaineering route when a slab of snow and ice detached from the steep slope above them. Four of the six mountaineers were caught in the slide and buried under the snow.
The Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (GREIM) of the Guardia Civil responded immediately, supported by medical helicopters. Despite the rapid response, rescuers could only confirm the deaths of three victims. The fourth person pulled from the debris was evacuated urgently to hospital suffering from severe hypothermia.
