Avalanche in northern Italy kills 5 German mountaineers

Five German ski mountaineers were killed after an avalanche struck Mount Ortles in northern Italy's Alps, reported Xinhua, quoting local authorities on Sunday.

According to Italy's ANSA news agency, the avalanche occurred around 4 p.m. local time on Saturday on the northern slope of Cima Vertana in South Tyrol. A group of five German tourists was swept away by the snow.

Three bodies were recovered on Saturday, while two others, a father and his 17-year-old daughter, were found dead on Sunday morning.

Authorities warned that rising temperatures in the region have made snow conditions unstable, increasing the risk of avalanches. They urged climbers and ski enthusiasts to pay close attention to weather and avalanche alerts and to avoid high-risk mountain areas.