Five German climbers have died after being caught in an avalanche in the Italian Alps.

The avalanche struck as they headed for the summit of Cima Vertana in the Ortler mountain range in northern Italy about 4pm on Saturday.

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

"They had been dragged to the lower part of the gully where the avalanche occurred," Alpine rescue spokesperson Federico Catania said.

"Rescue teams are now returning to the valley, also considering the worsening weather conditions at high altitude."

The climbers were hit by the avalanche at an altitude of more than 3,500 metres.

It is unknown why the climbers were still on their way to the summit at this r

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