An avalanche in Italy's Dolomite mountains has killed five German climbers, including a 17-year-old girl and her father, according to rescuers. The mountaineers, traveling in separate groups, were scaling Cima Vertana in the Ortler Alps at around 16:00 local time on Saturday when the fast-moving snow hit. A group of three people was fully swept away by the avalanche and all died, said Italy's Alpine rescue service, Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico. Separately, the father and daughter were carried away by the avalanche and their bodies were recovered on Sunday. Two other climbers in a third party survived. The alarm was raised by the survivors, triggering the rescue operation. Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, commented that the avalanche on the 3,545-meter (11,630ft) mountain, also called Vertainspitze, could have been caused by recent snow drifts which had not bonded to the ice below. He noted that climbing tours were popular and that weather conditions were good, raising questions as to why the climbers were scaling the mountain late in the afternoon, long after they should have started descending. Rescuers faced challenges such as fading light which suspended operations earlier and poor visibility that delayed helicopter extractions on Sunday. Ultimately, rescuers recovered the bodies of the two missing climbers later in the morning.
Tragic Avalanche in Italy Claims Father and Daughter Among Five Lives
Tragic Avalanche in Italy Claims Father and Daughter Among Five Lives
A devastating avalanche in Italy's Dolomite Mountains has resulted in the heartbreaking loss of five climbers, including a father and his 17-year-old daughter. Rescue efforts were complicated by challenging conditions after the incident.
An avalanche occurred on Cima Vertana, part of the Ortler Alps in Italy, tragically killing five climbers, which included a father and his teenage daughter. They were among several groups scaling the mountain when a sudden avalanche struck. Rescuers confirmed that while three were completely buried, the father and daughter were later found. Alpine rescuers suspect the avalanche was triggered by unstable snow conditions.
