ROME — A tragic avalanche struck a party of five skiers in the northern region of Piedmont, Italy, on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, according to rescue officials.
Two of the skiers managed to survive the incident and were evacuated to a nearby hospital by helicopter for medical treatment.
The avalanche occurred around noon on the eastern slope of Punta Valgrande, a mountain situated on the border between Italy and Switzerland.
Sadly, the three victims were pulled down the slope for several hundred meters, where they sustained life-threatening injuries.
Prior to the incident, officials had issued a warning about the potential for avalanches in the region, especially for elevations exceeding 2,100 meters (6,900 feet), indicating a “considerable danger of avalanches.”