Italy’s Dolomites in Peril: Mountains Falling Apart

A series of rockfalls on Cima Falkner in Italy’s Brenta Dolomites has forced the evacuation of hundreds of hikers and tourists, with dozens of hiking and climbing routes now closed.

Local media sources say the sudden collapses have reignited concerns among geologists and mountaineers about the increasing instability of the Alps.

This is largely attributed to the accelerated thawing of permafrost due to climate change.

Over the past few days, tourists in the region reported hearing loud cracking sounds followed by massive clouds of dust rising from Monte Pelmo in the Val di Zoldo area.

Rocky pinnacles detached and tumbled down into the Selva di Cadore valley in Belluno province, prompting alarm and emergency responses.

Another significant rockfall occurred on the slopes of Cima Falkner, although no injuries were reported.

Authorities say the debris stopped before reaching popular trails, but the incident underscores the growing fragility of the mountainous terrain.

The entire region is said to be undergoing rapid geomorphological changes, driven primarily by rising temperatures.

In a statement from officials in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, authorities confirmed that multiple rockfalls had occurred.

According to them, the rockfalls occurred on both the eastern and western faces of Cima Falkner.

As a precaution, all climbing routes and trails in the affected area were immediately closed, and all hikers were evacuated.

The public was urged to stay informed and strictly follow safety advisories.

A geological team, supported by a helicopter unit, conducted an aerial inspection.

It discoveries confirmed that the summit is undergoing ongoing erosion likely linked to the degradation of permafrost, frozen ground that traditionally helps keep mountain rock formations stable.

While rockfalls are not new to the Dolomites, the frequency and intensity of such events have surged dramatically in recent years.

Experts say this sharp uptick is being driven by extreme weather fluctuations and steadily increasing heat, both symptoms of the global climate crisis.

“We’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Piero Carlesi, president of the scientific committee of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI).

“Rockfalls and landslides are increasing rapidly, and it’s clearly due to the climate crisis.

“The pace at which this is happening is unprecedented.”

Carlesi explained that in colder temperatures, water trapped in rock crevices freezes and acts like natural cement, helping bind the rock structures together.

But as average temperatures climb, this frozen “glue” is melting, causing rocks to fracture and fall more frequently.

“We are watching the slow disintegration of these mountains,” he added.

These warnings echo findings from Italian environmentalists and scientists who, last year, projected that the Marmolada glacier, the largest in the Dolomites, could vanish entirely by 2040.

According to reports, the glacier has been retreating steadily since records began in 1888.

It is reportedly losing over 70 hectares of surface area in just the past five years and thinning by up to 10 centimeters daily during warmer months.

The dangers are not limited to the Italian Alps. Rockfall risks are also rising in the French Alps.

In late June 2025, Mont Blanc experienced an unusual heatwave, with temperatures remaining above freezing even at its summit.

This prolonged warmth poses a threat to the mountain’s structural stability.

Bernard Vion, a 66-year-old mountain guide in the French Alps near Pralognan-la-Vanoise, described how climate change has radically altered his work.

“We’ve had to rethink many of our routes.

“The risk is too high now,” he said, showing photos of a recent rockfall near a mountain refuge at 2,800 meters.

“A colleague sent me this and said he never thought something like this could happen there.”

Vion, who has been guiding in the region for decades, emphasized the growing challenge for both professionals and amateurs.

“Even for experienced guides, these conditions are unpredictable.

“I worry even more for casual hikers who don’t have the same level of awareness or training.”

He concluded with a stark warning: “This is climate breakdown, plain and simple.

“Anyone who still doubts it should come and see what’s happening to our mountains.”

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