Overview

• Luca Perazzini and Cristian Gualdi were killed by an avalanche while climbing in the Gran Sasso massif in Italy's Abruzzo region.
• The climbers had sent a distress call but rescue efforts were hindered by heavy snow, subzero temperatures, and wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h.
• Their bodies were located on Friday morning by a helicopter crew using sonar technology after days of dangerous search conditions.
• The men, both from Emilia-Romagna, had been climbing at an altitude of approximately 2,500 meters when the avalanche struck.
• Flags in their hometown of Santarcangelo were lowered to half-mast as the community mourns their loss during the holiday season.