Two hikers on snowshoes, hit by avalanche in Italian Alps near Switzerland, are dead, rescuers say

ROME (AP) — Italy’s alpine rescue service says two persons who were hiking with snowshoes have died after being struck by an avalanche. A spokesperson for the alpine rescuers said the avalanche occurred in early afternoon on Sunday at the 2,200-meter (7,200-foot) level in the Formazza valley in the Piedmont region near Switzerland. The force of the avalanche pushed one of the victims into a lake near the bottom of the slope, while the other body was found in a mass of snow. The rescuers added that despite strong winds, a helicopter was able to lower a rescue team aided by dogs. The identities of the two victims weren’t immediately released.