Two hikers on snowshoes were killed by a huge avalanche in the Italian Alps near Switzerland, mountain rescuers said on Sunday.
A 30-year-old woman and a man aged 53 from the northern region of Lombardy died in the tragedy, local media reported.
The force pushed one victim into a lake near the bottom of the slope, while the other body was found in the mass of snow.
Federico Catania, a spokesman for Italy’s alpine rescue service, said the avalanche occurred around noon at 7,200ft (2,200 metres) in Val Formazza, part of the Piedmont region.
Despite strong winds, a helicopter was able to lower a recovery team aided by a dog unit.
The identities of the two victims weren’t immediately released.
A rescue operation was launched after guards at a nearby dike reported seeing an avalanche strike two hikers, Mr Catania said.
An initial search by foot failed to find the hikers, prompting the use of the aircraft.
A firefighter helicopter carrying divers was dispatched to pull one victim from the lake, rescuers added.
