SOUTH TYROL — Two skiers were killed when an avalanche struck the slopes of the 2,669-meter Hohe Ferse mountain near Ratschings in South Tyrol at 11:40 a.m. local time. The avalanche occurred at an altitude of approximately 2,400 meters close to the border with Austria and caught 25 skiers on the slope.
Three people were seriously injured and two were lightly injured in the avalanche. The rescue operation involved six helicopters and around 80 rescuers from the mountain rescue service, the Alpine Association, police, and firefighters.
The avalanche season across the Alps has been deadly this year. As of March 16, there were 127 avalanche-related deaths this season, which began October 1, including 33 in Italy, 31 in France, and 29 in Austria.
The European Avalanche Warning Services reports on its website that avalanche fatalities average 100 per season. During one week in early February, 13 skiers died on slopes, of whom 10 died in avalanches. Hohe Ferse, also known as Monte Tallone Grande, is located in the northern Italian province of South Tyrol.