Avalanches kill at least three in northern Italy, toll may rise

Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.

In the Lombardy region, two people were killed by an avalanche near the town of Albosaggia, authorities said.

In Trentino, a skier died after being buried in a separate avalanche that occurred after 4:00 p.m. on the Marmolada massif, along the Trentino side near Punta Serauta.

The victim was part of a group of four Italian skiers in their forties who had left marked ski runs to venture off-piste, according to the Alpine Rescue Service. Although the group was equipped with avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes, the first skier triggered the slide and was completely buried.

The remaining skiers, who were uninjured, began search operations before rescue teams arrived. Helicopters and dog units were deployed, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Earlier in the day, an avalanche in the Aosta Valley partially buried two ski tourers. They were rescued by companions and were not injured.

Authorities said reports of an additional fatality linked to another avalanche in Trentino remained unconfirmed.

Rescue services urged caution, warning that snow conditions in several Alpine areas remain highly unstable.

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