Fatal Avalanche in Italian Alps
Five German Climbers Killed in Tragedy
A devastating avalanche occurred on Saturday near the summit of Cima Vertana, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northern Italy, claiming the lives of five German climbers, according to the Italian Alpine Rescue team.
Incident Details
The avalanche, which was triggered in the early afternoon, affected two groups of German climbers ascending the Ortles massif, close to the Swiss border.
- The first group, consisting of three climbers, was completely buried under the snow while scaling a narrow couloir. Unfortunately, all three climbers were found dead.
- The second group, comprising four people, saw two members manage to seek shelter and survive, while the other two, a father and his 17-year-old daughter, were found dead on Sunday morning.
Rescue Efforts
The search and rescue operations, hindered by deteriorating weather conditions, were temporarily suspended before resuming on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The rescue efforts involved the deployment of:
- Helicopters
- Drones
- Mountain rescue dog teams at high altitude
The Italian Alpine Rescue team worked tirelessly to locate the missing climbers, facing significant challenges due to the harsh weather conditions.
