Avalanches in Italian Alps kill seven

BOLZANO, Italy, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A series of avalanches in the Italian Alps have left seven people dead and a young boy clinging to life in Bolzano, Italy, officials say.

The Guardian (Britain) reported Sunday a German boy was hospitalized after being struck by one of the recent avalanches, while four rescuers searching for two missing Italian tourists were killed in an avalanche in the Dolomites section of the Alps.

The four rescuers were taking part in a search and rescue effort involving seven expert mountaineers when the avalanche struck. A separate expedition located the bodies of the two missing tourists, who also died as a result of an avalanche.

The Guardian said the young German national was hurt after being hit by an avalanche while taking a shortcut along area ski slopes.

The young victim was traveling with a 12-year-old boy and the boy's older brother when the avalanche struck. The 12-year-old was killed in the avalanche, while the third youth escaped unhurt.