Five German Climbers Killed in Ortles Avalanche; Searches Conclude in South Tyrol

Overview

• Rescuers confirmed five fatalities, including a father and his 17-year-old daughter, and airlifted two survivors to a hospital in Bolzano.
• The avalanche struck around 16:00 near Cima Vertana on the Ortles massif at an elevation above 3,500 meters, roughly 100 meters below the summit.
• Multiple independent parties were involved, with one group of three completely buried and killed and survivors belonging to another party.
• Fog and poor visibility grounded helicopters at times, and specialized mountain teams with sniffer dogs resumed operations once conditions improved.
• Authorities are documenting the incident and noted questions about late‑day ascents in a South Tyrol area popular with German mountaineers and prone to avalanche risk.