Fatal Avalanche Claims Two Hikers in Italian Alps

Two snowshoe hikers were killed in an avalanche in the Italian Alps near the Switzerland border. The avalanche occurred at an elevation of 7,200 feet in the Formazza valley, with one hiker found buried in the snow and the other recovered from a lake. Rescue operations, including helicopter and divers, were hampered by strong winds and low visibility. The victims were reported to be a 30-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man from the Lombardy region in northern Italy.