Two skiers died on Saturday after an avalanche in Italy northern mountains.
The avalanche happened at nearly 8000 feet of elevation near the town of Ratschings, close to the border with Austria.
The CNSAS rescue service's Bolzano emergency center reported that 25 skiers were caught in the avalanche. Besides the two dead, three were seriously injured and two lightly injured, it said.
The avalanche took place a little before noon local time. Six helicopters and around 80 rescuers from CNSAS, the Alpine Association, police and firefighters are involved in the rescue operation.
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This season has seen an unusually high number of death from avalanches. European Avalanche Warning Services reports in its website avalanches.org that fatalities average 100 per season. As of March 16, reported deaths this season starting Oct. 1 were at 127, including 33 in Italy, 31 in France and 29 in Austria.
Experts attributed the deaths to an exceptionally unstable snowpack and the rush of skiing enthusiasts to off-piste slopes after recent heavy snowstorms.
Climate experts have argued that snow instability is due to rising temperatures and stronger winds.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
