In a devastating incident, five German climbers lost their lives after being struck by an avalanche in South Tyrol, northern Italy, as confirmed by rescue officials on Sunday. The tragedy unfolded on Saturday afternoon near the Cima Vertana peak in the Ortles mountains, at an elevation exceeding 3,500 meters (11,500 feet). Three victims—two men and a woman—were recovered lifeless on the same day, while the bodies of a man and his 17-year-old daughter were discovered on Sunday morning. According to Federico Catania, a spokesperson for the Alpine rescue team, the victims were swept to the lower section of the gully where the avalanche occurred. Rescue operations were further complicated by deteriorating weather conditions at higher altitudes. The climbers, divided into three independent groups, were ascending the mountain at an unusually late hour, raising questions about their timing. Two survivors were airlifted to a hospital in Bolzano. South Tyrol, renowned for its mountaineering appeal, particularly among German tourists, has witnessed numerous avalanche-related fatalities over the years. The Ortles region, home to the area’s highest peak at 3,905 meters, is a hotspot for such accidents. Experts attribute the rising number of incidents to increased backcountry exploration following fresh snowfall.