An avalanche at the Italian resort of Val Senales has killed three skiers. The avalanche occurred on Saturday local South Tyrol time on the Val Senales glacier near the Austrian border.
At least five piste skiers were caught up in the avalanche including a 35 year old woman and two seven year old girls and a father and his 11 year old son. The woman and one of the girls died at the scene while the second girl died en route to hospital according to Italian media.
Three helicopters and over 70 workers were involved in the rescue and recovery. Investigators have not ruled out the avalanche may have been triggered by off piste skiers.
A second avalanche in Italy on Sunday in the Brenta Dolomite mountains claimed the life of a 28 year old who had been skiing off piste with three friends, all experienced off piste skiers.
Two were caught in the avalanche, the second skier was injured but survived.
An Austrian skier survived five hours buried in an avalanche last week while six people were caught in an avalanche at Andermatt in Switzerland. All survived but it is believed the avalanche was caused by a free rider off piste above the ski run.
