Five German mountaineers lost their lives after being struck by an avalanche in South Tyrol, northern Italy, local rescue authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The deadly avalanche occurred on Saturday afternoon near Cima Vertana in the Ortles mountains, one of the highest peaks in the Italian Alps, at an altitude of over 3,500 meters (11,500 feet).

Three of the victims — two men and a woman — were recovered dead on Saturday, while rescue teams located the bodies of the remaining two climbers, a father and his 17-year-old daughter, early Sunday morning.

“They had been dragged to the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred,” Alpine rescue spokesman Federico Catania told reporters. “Rescue teams are now returning to the valley, also considering the worsening weather conditions at high altitude.”

Authorities said the climbers were part of three independent groups ascending the mountain at the time of the incident. Two men survived the avalanche and were airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Bolzano, where they are receiving treatment.

Rescuers said it remains unclear why the groups continued climbing late in the afternoon when conditions were becoming increasingly unstable.

South Tyrol, located along Italy’s border with Austria and Switzerland, is a popular destination for mountaineers and skiers, particularly visitors from Germany. The region’s highest peak, Ortles, rises to 3,905 meters (12,812 feet).

Avalanche accidents are a recurring hazard in the Italian Alps, which record one of the highest annual death tolls among major ski nations. Experts have warned that such incidents are becoming more frequent as more climbers and backcountry enthusiasts venture out immediately after fresh snowfalls, often before slopes have stabilized.

Authorities have urged caution for those planning high-altitude excursions in the coming days, as heavy snow and fluctuating temperatures continue to increase avalanche risks across the Alpine region. (ILKHA)