Avalanche kills three skiers in northern Italy a week after hiker tragedy

At least five people have been killed by avalanches in Italy in the last week (Picture: Zocchi Roberto/Shutterstock)

Three skiers died when an avalanche hit their group in Italy’s northern Piedmont region.

A group of five people were heading up the eastern face of the 9,373ft Punta Valgrande, on the Swiss border, when a mass of snow swept down the slope around midday.

The three who died were dragged several hundred metres from near its summit, causing fatal injuries.

Both...