Avalanche traps 25 skiers, killing two near the Austria border

• An avalanche in Italy's South Tyrol region claimed the lives of two skiers and seriously injured three others on Saturday.
• The incident occurred at approximately 2,400 metres on the slopes of Hohe Ferse, near the Austrian border, catching a total of 25 skiers.
• A large-scale rescue operation was immediately launched, involving six helicopters and around 80 rescuers from various emergency services.
• This season has seen an unusually high number of avalanche fatalities across Europe, with 127 reported deaths as of 16 March, including 33 in Italy.
• Experts attribute the increased deaths to an exceptionally unstable snowpack and a rush to off-piste slopes, with climate experts linking snow instability to rising temperatures.

IN FULL

Deadly avalanche in Northern Italy kills two skiers, injures five