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Five German Climbers Killed in Avalanche Tragedy in Italy’s South Tyrol
All five German mountaineers reported missing after an avalanche in Italy’s South Tyrol region have been confirmed dead, authorities said on Sunday. The final two victims — a father and his 17-year-old daughter — were discovered by Italian rescue teams in the Ortler mountain range, bringing the grim search to an end.
The avalanche struck on Saturday afternoon at around 4 p.m. near the 3,545-meter Vertainspitze peak in the Ortler region, one of the highest and most challenging areas in the Italian Alps. The climbers, who were ascending at an altitude of approximately 3,200 meters, were swept away when a large snow mass suddenly broke loose about 100 meters below the summit.
Three of the climbers’ bodies were recovered on Saturday, while rescue teams were forced to suspend operations after nightfall. “By Saturday evening, there was no longer any hope of finding the remaining two alive,” said Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the mountain rescue service. The search resumed at first light on Sunday, when the bodies of the father and daughter were located.
Reinstadler said the pair had “certainly” fallen around 200 meters when the avalanche hit. “The circumstances indicate that the fall was fatal,” he confirmed.
Two other climbers, both men, survived the disaster and were airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Bolzano. Their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
According to preliminary findings, the five victims were part of a larger group that had split into three rope teams — one team of three and two teams of two — each climbing independently. Investigators are still determining what triggered the avalanche, though Reinstadler noted that the overall avalanche risk on Saturday was not considered high.
“It’s possible that heavy snowdrifts caused the avalanche,” he said, explaining that newly fallen snow had not yet bonded firmly to the older layers beneath. Fresh snow had blanketed the region only days earlier, while daytime temperatures remained unusually mild for this time of year.
Rescuers said the climbers appeared to have been taken completely by surprise. The avalanche occurred late in the day, when visibility was decreasing, and the group was traversing a steep, icy passage with crampons and ice axes — conditions that left them little chance to escape. Witnesses from a nearby vantage point saw the snow slide and immediately alerted authorities.
The north face of the Ortler region is considered one of the Alps’ most demanding routes, often described as a “high alpine ice tour” requiring advanced technical skills, ropes, and full climbing gear.
Italian officials have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy, as the mountaineering community mourns the loss of five experienced climbers caught in the season’s first major avalanche.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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