3 killed in avalanche that trapped 5 skiers in Italy
Rescuers said the victims were dragged several hundred feet by the avalanche in Italy's Piedmont region Sunday.
Avalanche kills three in Italy's Piedmont Alps
Three skiers were killed in an avalanche in the Piedmont region on Sunday (January 12) when the eastern face of Punta Valgrande, on the Italy-Switzerland border, was struck by a snow slide (Video Credit: ALPINE RESCUE).
ROME - Three skiers were killed in an avalanche in Italy's Piedmont region on Sunday.
Piedmont Alpine and Speleological Rescue said they responded to calls of an avalanche involving five mountaineers just after noon local time.
The avalanche happened on the peak of Punta Valgrande, a popular mountain in the Swiss Alps among experienced hikers and skiers, near the border of Italy and Switzerland.
Rescuers said the victims were dragged several hundred feet by the snow.
Medical teams arrived by helicopter and were able to rescue two skiers, but three others were found dead on the scene.
Piedmont Alpine and Speleological Rescue responds to avalanche in Italy's Piedmont region. Two skiiers were rescued, three found dead.
(Piedmont Alpine and Speleological Rescue )
Meanwhile, in Adamello in the nearby Italian Alps, search operations for a missing climber were temporarily suspended due to worsening weather conditions, according to a report from Reuters.