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Two skiers died after an avalanche struck in Italy’s South Tyrol on Saturday, while rescue teams also reported multiple injuries among skiers caught in the slide. The CNSAS mountain rescue service said the incident occurred near the Austria border, with 25 skiers trapped in the avalanche, and it said two people died and five others were injured.
CNSAS reported that the avalanche took place at an altitude of around 2,400 meters (about 7,874 feet) on the slopes of Hohe Ferse, also known as Monte Tallone Grande. The mountain is 2,669 meters (about 8,757 feet) high, and the CNSAS Bolzano emergency center located the scene near the town of Ratschings, close to Austria.
The rescue service said the avalanche happened at 11:40 a.m. local time, which was listed as 10:40 GMT. It said that beyond the two fatalities, three of the caught skiers were seriously injured and two were lightly injured.
CNSAS said the rescue effort involved six helicopters. Italian media, including ANSA, reported that around 80 rescuers took part, including CNSAS personnel as well as members of the Alpine Association, police and firefighters.
The AP report framed the incident within a wider pattern of avalanche deaths across Europe this winter. It said European Avalanche Warning Services data show fatalities averaging about 100 per season, while also reporting that deaths recorded this season starting Oct. 1 had risen to 127 as of March 16, including 33 in Italy, 31 in France and 29 in Austria.
Earlier in February, the same reporting cited a week in which 13 skiers died on slopes as Italy hosted the Winter Olympics, including 10 deaths in avalanches. Experts attributed avalanche deaths to an unstable snowpack and to skiers moving onto off-piste terrain after recent heavy snowstorms.
Climate experts told the AP that snow instability is linked to rising temperatures and stronger winds, adding to conditions that can make avalanche risks more difficult to manage in high alpine terrain.