An avalanche in Italy's Dolomite mountains has resulted in the tragic deaths of five German climbers, comprising a 17-year-old girl and her father, according to rescuers.
The mountaineers, who were scaling Cima Vertana in the Ortler Alps at around 16:00 local time on Saturday, were caught off-guard by a fast-moving snow slide.
According to Italy's Alpine rescue service, Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, a group of three individuals was fully swept away by the avalanche, leading to their immediate deaths. In another instance, the father and daughter were also swept away, with their bodies recovered on Sunday. Luckily, two other climbers from a third group managed to survive.
The survivors raised the alarm, which prompted the immediate rescue operations.
According to Olaf Reinstadler from the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, this avalanche might have been triggered by recent snow drifts that did not bond well with the ice below. Although the weather conditions appeared favorable for climbing, there were queries regarding why climbers were pursuing ascents in the later afternoon, dictating their descent would coincide with nightfall.
Rescue efforts to retrieve the bodies of the climbers were hampered initially by fading light and adverse conditions. However, once conditions improved, rescuers were deployed to a height of 2,600 meters before embarking on foot. By late morning, the bodies of the missing father and daughter were successfully located.
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