A tragic avalanche near Nuuk has left a 17-year-old boy dead and two others hospitalized, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
Emergency services were alerted at around 3:45 p.m. local time after reports of an avalanche on Qassi Mountain. According to police, a coordinated response team—including local officers, Arctic Command personnel, firefighters, and search and rescue units—rushed to the scene.
Four individuals were found buried beneath the snow. Two were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The teenage victim was later pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. Officials confirmed that one person escaped unharmed.
The group had been traveling together on a snowmobile excursion when the avalanche struck. Authorities also revealed that two additional individuals from the same group remain missing, prompting an ongoing search and rescue effort. A helicopter has been deployed to assist in locating them.
Police Chief Karsten Højrup Kristensen stated that the operation remains in a critical phase, with efforts focused on reaching the missing individuals as quickly as possible.
Avalanches are known to occur when large masses of snow rapidly descend mountain slopes, often with little warning. The compacted snow can quickly harden, making survival difficult for those trapped underneath.
This incident follows another deadly avalanche in the Italian Alps last month, highlighting the persistent dangers in high-risk mountainous regions. Authorities continue to urge travelers to carry proper safety gear and remain cautious in avalanche-prone areas.
