ROME – One German tourist died and at least two more were injured after being caught in an avalanche at Racines di Dentro, in the Alto-Adige region, police said.

 Four Germans had been on a ski mountaineering trip in the Dolomites when the avalanche occurred. The avalanche happened near the Wumblslam refuge, an isolated area over a kilometre away from the nearest ski lifts.

 One of the four stayed behind in the refuge, while the other three continued. The avalanche risk was 3 out of 5, which is defined as a “considerable” risk because “on many sufficiently steep slopes, the snow cover is barely or only partially stabilised.”

 The alarm was raised at 5 p.m. and an operation involving multiple rescue teams from CNSAS, Alpenverein and the police. All three emergency rescue helicopters were also called to the scene.

 The three trapped Germans stuck all had avalanche transceivers, which are emergency locator beacons aimed to locate people stuck under snow and were quickly found by rescuers.

 One tourist was confirmed dead at the scene. The two injured remain in a serious condition in Bolzano hospital. None of the victims have been named.

 In the past few days at least 60cm has fallen in the region, and the avalanche risk remains moderate due to the fresh snow

 khg