A tragic early-season avalanche in the northern Italian Alps claimed the lives of five German mountaineers on Saturday, as confirmed by the Italian Alpine rescue organization.
These climbers were part of two distinct groups making an ascent near the Cima Vertana, a prominent peak in the Eastern Alps. They were tragically swept away by the avalanche Saturday evening, according to Federico Catania, a spokesperson for the rescue organization, known by its Italian acronym, C.N.S.A.S.
Mr. Catania detailed in an email that three climbers from one group were found deceased Saturday night. The second group, comprising four individuals, saw two survivors, but a man and his 17-year-old daughter were tragically discovered dead in a gully the following Sunday.
Rescue operations were launched almost immediately after the avalanche hit. However, the challenging conditions significantly complicated efforts to locate and recover the climbers, necessitating a pause in the search overnight.
Early Sunday morning, darkness and dense fog grounded helicopters. As conditions improved, rescue teams and specialized avalanche dogs were eventually deployed to high altitudes, continuing their search on foot.
By Sunday, these teams were still working tirelessly to recover and transport the bodies of the father and daughter, battling the persistent difficult weather.
This incident adds to a concerning trend, as Italy had already reported at least 11 avalanche fatalities during the 2024-25 winter season, according to the European Avalanche Warning Services.