A series of avalanches in the Italian Alps killed two people and injured several others on Friday, with strong winds hindering rescue operations, authorities said.
The first avalanche struck the Maira Valley, in the southwestern Alps near the border with France, in the Italian Piedmont region, killing one person and injuring two others. One of the injured is in critical condition.
Rescue teams went on foot from lower elevations after the strong winds prevented helicopter crews from reaching the site, the organization said in a statement.
A second avalanche occurred near Pragelato, a popular ski destination about 60 km west of Turin.
A woman trapped in the avalanche managed to free herself, but she could not move due to her injuries. Rescuers were working to extract her, with helicopters again limited by adverse weather conditions.
The authorities said they were monitoring reports of a third avalanche in Piedmont, but there were no immediate details available.
Separately, in the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, an avalanche on the slope of Vajo Gabene in the Little Dolomites killed a 50-year-old ski mountaineer, the Italian news agency Ansa reported.
Rescue teams reached him by helicopter, but they could not save him.
A combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds has increased avalanche risks in the Alps in recent days, prompting alerts for skiers and hikers.
Local authorities urged caution and discouraged off-piste excursions, as conditions remained unstable.
