Five German climbers died after they were caught in an avalanche in the Italian alps, local authorities said on Sunday.

According to The Guardian, the avalanche hit at about 4pm on Saturday while the climbers were using crampons and ice axes to summit Cima Vertana, in the Ortler mountain range, at an altitude of more than 3,500 metres (11,500ft). The Ortler massif, part of the Italian Alps close to the Swiss border, is a popular destination for professional hikers and climbers.

The rescuers said that the climbers were just a few hundred metres from the summit when the avalanche struck.

According to a report by Reuters, the climbers had set out on Saturday to scale Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range near the village of Solda. The avalanche struck as they headed for the summit.

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