An avalanche in Italy's Dolomite mountains has killed five German climbers, including a 17-year-old girl and her father, according to rescuers. The mountaineers, travelling in separate groups, were scaling Cima Vertana in the Ortler Alps at around 16:00 local time on Saturday when the fast-moving snow hit.

Avalanche accidents are a persistent issue in the Italian Alps, with the country registering one of the higher 10-year average annual death tolls among major ski nations.

Five people were killed, including a father and daughter climbing duo, during a weekend avalanche in the Italian Alps. The incident occurred near Cima Vertana, one of the tallest peaks in Eastern Italy and part of the Ortler Alps.

Five climbers from Germany — including a 17-year-old girl and her father — have died after being caught in an avalanche in the Italian Alps on Nov. 1. The climbers had set out to scale Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range near the Italian village of Solda.

An avalanche caught seven tourists in South Tyrol while they were heading up a mountain on a ski tour. Two escaped unharmed, but the other five died.