![\"Italy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ap26080571660335.jpg#.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nTwo skiers died and five others were injured on Saturday when an avalanche rumbled down on them in the Italian Alps, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, the mountain rescue service said.<\/p>\n
The service’s operation centre received an alert around midday that a dozen skiers were caught up in the avalanche, a spokesman said.<\/p>\n
“Six helicopters were dispatched,” and nearby hospitals were notified, he said.<\/p>\n
The avalanche happened at an altitude of around 7,874 feet on the slopes of the 8,757-foot Hohe Ferse near the town of Ratschings, close to the border with Austria, the Associated Press reported.<\/p>\n
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Rescuers search on the site where an avalanche broke loose in Val Ridanna, in Alto Adige, northern Italy, engulfing a group of 10 skiers Saturday, March 21, 2026.<\/p>\n
Italian Alpine the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps Trentino Via AP<\/p>\n
Dozens of rescue personnel, as well as firemen and law enforcement, participate in the search-and-rescue effort.<\/p>\n
A total of 25 skiers were on the mountainside where the avalanche occurred, but most had escaped the brunt of the slide of snow, rocks and ice.<\/p>\n
A few days ago, in the same region, a Polish man was killed by an avalanche.<\/p>\n
The avalanche warning given for the region on Saturday evaluated the danger as between low and moderate.<\/p>\n
Europe has been hit by a string of avalanches this winter. Last month, at least five people<\/a>, including an American, were killed in a string of avalanches in western Austria. Three\u00a0avalanches<\/a>\u00a0across Austria killed eight skiers in Jan., authorities said. Six skiers died<\/a>\u00a0in France after being caught in avalanches in various Alpine resorts.<\/p>\n