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Avalanche on South Tyrol’s Vertainspitze Kills Three German Climbers as Search for Two Continues

Rescuers suspended operations after nightfall pending a planned restart Sunday morning.

Overview

  • The five-member German party was ascending the mountain’s north face when a slab released around 3,200 meters in a narrow gully.
  • Mountain rescue teams located three buried climbers quickly but recovered them dead at the scene.
  • Two teammates who had been climbing ahead were not caught and were flown to the valley uninjured by helicopter.
  • The search for the two missing was halted after 19:00 for safety, with plans to resume at first light using helicopters and drones.
  • Responders included the Sulden volunteer fire brigade, Bergrettung units and the Finanzpolizei’s mountain rescue, with Pelikan 1 and Pelikan 3 deployed.