Camilla Jessen
A group of mountaineers was just meters from the summit when a deadly avalanche struck.
A deadly avalanche in the Italian Alps has claimed the lives of five German climbers, including a 17-year-old girl, after they were swept off a high-altitude slope near the summit of Cima Vertana in South Tyrol on Saturday.
According to The Guardian and rescue officials, the climbers were part of three separate groups making their way independently toward the summit, which stands at over 3,500 meters in the Ortler massif.
At around 4:00 p.m., a sudden snow collapse sent tons of snow crashing down the slope.
The first group, consisting of two men and a woman, was completely buried. Their bodies were recovered later that day.
Two climbers ahead of them managed to avoid the avalanche and alert authorities.
By Saturday evening, a father and his 17-year-old daughter remained missing. Search teams resumed operations Sunday morning using helicopters, drones, and thermal cameras.
Their bodies were later discovered in the lower part of the valley, having fallen approximately 200 meters.
Experts say avalanche risk was not considered high on Saturday, but recent snow accumulation combined with sudden wind gusts may have triggered the collapse.
Authorities are questioning why the climbers attempted the summit so late in the day.
No other climbers were reported in the area at the time.
Avalanches are a persistent threat in the Italian Alps. According to the Associated Press, the region has a higher average fatality rate than other ski regions, with accidents increasing in recent years as more people venture off marked trails.
Rescue officials have not yet released the names of the victims.
