Drones spot 2 more bodies from Italy avalanche, toll at 9

By LUCA BRUNO and FRANCES D’EMILIO
Associated Press

CANAZEI, Italy (AP) — Conditions in the Italian Alps were too unstable Wednesday for search teams and dogs to work on the mountain after a fatal weekend avalanche. But drones spotted two bodies, raising to nine the toll of known dead. An enormous chunk of a glacier on Marmolada mountain broke off Sunday. It sent an avalanche of ice and rocks thundering across a trail where hikers were enjoying warm, sunny weather. Rescuers say they hope the temperature will dip Thursday, lessening the risk of more avalanches. A prosecutor says he’s opened a formal investigation to determine if any negligence was involved. But he says it appears the avalanche couldn’t have been anticipated.