BOLZANO – A deadly avalanche between South Tyrol and Valle d’Aosta killed two ski mountaineers and injured one, local sources said. 

 The avalanche occurred about 2,700 meters above sea level on Saturday and was a spontaneous detachment, not caused by human activity. It was discovered Saturday night after the victims were reported missing. 

 The victims, two Turin men, were found 50 meters apart, buried under about three meters of snow in Chateau des Dames, the valley where the avalanche was discovered. 

 Their bodies were taken to Cervinia. The one wounded survivor was transported by helicopter to a Bolzano hospital to be treated for hypothermia. 

 Two Alpine Rescue teams conducted the search and recovery after friends of the victims called for help after not being able to reach them. They provided the team with a photograph from earlier in the day which helped identify their location. 

 Soldiers, dogs, and helicopters searched over mountains and valleys until midnight Saturday.

The next morning, the search continued, and they found the bodies: Gabriele Del Carlo, 39, a cyclist and activist of Bike Pride Turin; and Velio Coviello, 38, a researcher at the Research Institute for Hydrogeological Protection of the Cnr. Both victims were passionate about the environment and were involved in various outdoor-related activities and organizations. 

 Military rescuers of the Cervinia financial police will conduct further investigations to understand better the dynamics of the accident. 

 The avalanche danger was marked as high at a 4-strength on Saturday. Two other avalanches occurred in Bolzano on Saturday, but neither caused injuries to skiers. The avalanche bulletin read: "excursions and off-piste descents require experience and prudence." 

 Luciano Caveri, Valle d'Aosta's regional councillor for European affairs, tweeted, "It is disconcerting that there are ski mountaineers who disregard the bulletins that indicate danger, exposing rescuers to risks for very costly rescues for the community, unfortunately often only to recover the bodies of those who have been victims of their own imprudence," sparking controversy following the tragedy.