Avalanche in Italian Alps kills two, several missing

A large avalanche in the Italian Alps has killed two and rescuers are searching for several others, Italian media reported on Saturday.

The avalanche happened at more than 3,000 metres on Monte Nevoso in South Tyrol, near the Austrian border, the local Alto Adige newspaper reported on its website. As many as 10 people could still be buried, while two bodies have been recovered, it said.

A helicopter has brought a canine unit to the scene to search for survivors, state news agency Ansa said.

The two killed were trying to climb the summit, despite a"marked" risk of avalanche of 3 in the area at the time, in a scale where 5 indicates a strong risk.