Five German mountaineers were killed on Saturday when an early-season avalanche struck the Alps in northern Italy, the Italian Alpine rescue organization said.
The climbers were part of two separate groups ascending near the Cima Vertana, one of the highest mountains in the Eastern Alps, when they were swept away by an avalanche on Saturday evening, said Federico Catania, a spokesman for the rescue organization, which is known as C.N.S.A.S.
Three climbers in one group were confirmed dead on Saturday evening, Mr. Catania said in an email. The other group consisted of four climbers, two of whom survived. The other two, a man and his 17-year-old daughter, were found dead in a gully on Sunday.
Rescuers deployed almost immediately after the avalanche struck but faced challenging conditions as they worked to recover the climbers, Mr. Catania said, and they paused the search overnight.
Darkness and fog prevented helicopters from flying in the area early Sunday, he said. Teams of rescuers and avalanche dogs were eventually dropped at altitude on Sunday after conditions cleared, and they continued their search on foot.
The teams were working to recover and transport the bodies of the father and daughter on Sunday amid difficult weather, Mr. Catania said.
At least 11 people were killed by avalanches in Italy in the 2024-25 winter season, according to the European Avalanche Warning Services.
Ali Watkins covers international news for The Times and is based in Belfast.
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