Search continues after glacier collapses in Italy

STORY: The avalanche on Sunday (July 3) took place on the Marmolada, which at more than 3,300 metres is the highest mountain in the Dolomites, a range in the eastern Italian Alps straddling the regions of Trento and Veneto.

The Trento provincial government said a large "ice avalanche" involved hikers, and Alpine rescue coordinator Gino Comelli told Reuters the eight wounded people were being treated in hospital and were "not in a good condition."

The huge mass of ice collapsed close to Punta Rocca, on the route usually used by hikers and climbers to reach the summit, the Alpine rescue unit said.

Helicopters and dogs were being used to try to find survivors.