A 19-year-old university student has died after being caught in an avalanche in the mountains above Almaty, Kazakhstan, in yet another tragic incident highlighting the dangers of winter trekking.

The avalanche struck on the morning of February 22, 2026, at the Titova Pass - located at an altitude of about 3,400 meters, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, a group of four people was hit by a sudden snow slide in the high-altitude area.

One member of the group managed to free himself and call for help.

Rescuers from the city’s Emergency Department, including the Universal Rescue Unit-23, specialists from the Republican Rescue Service “Barys,” a canine search team, and volunteers, were immediately dispatched to the scene. A drone was also deployed during the search-and-rescue operation to scan the snow-covered slopes from above.

After intensive efforts, rescuers recovered the body of the victim from beneath the snow.

Local media later identified the dead as a first-year, 19-year-old student at Almaty Management University (ALMAU).

The tragedy comes amid repeated warnings from authorities about avalanche risks in the Almaty mountains. Despite strong advisories and unstable snow conditions, many hikers and tourists continue to venture into high-risk zones during the winter season - sometimes with fatal consequences.