Five German mountaineers have died in an avalanche in northern Italy.

It hit around 4pm on Saturday near Cima Vertana, in the Ortles mountains, at an altitude of more than 3,500m (11,500ft).

Two men survived and were flown to hospital by helicopter.

The bodies of three of the victims - two men and a woman - were recovered on Saturday, while a man and his 17-year-old daughter were found on Sunday morning.

They were traveling independently of each other in three groups.

Image: The site of the avalanche. Pic: AP

Image: Two victims were brought down by helicopter on Sunday. Pic: AP

Rescuers said they didn't know why the climbers were still ascending at a relatively late hour.

"They had been dragged to the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred," said rescue spokesman

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