Italy avalanche: Three dead and five injured as avalanche hits Italian Alps

Three skiers have been killed and five people injured in an avalanche in the northern Italian Alps, rescuers said.

The group were back-country skiing on fresh snow in the Plan de la Gabba resort when the avalanche struck around midday (local time), Milan Walter, from Italy’s national alpine rescue corps.

The nationalities of the victims are not yet known.

Mr Walter said three skiers were seriously injured and transported by helicopter to nearby Aosta while two others were suffered minor injuries.

Another avalanche that hit at about the same time in Colle San Carlo involved two skiers, but Mr Walter said both were safe.