Avalanche in Slovenia's Alps kills three Croatian climbers

A representational image of an avalanche.

Three Croatian climbers were killed after an avalanche struck below the Toska mountain peak in Slovenia's Julian Alps on Sunday, rescuers said on Monday.

The search for the trekkers, who went climbing despite weather warnings, began on Sunday when rescuers found the body of one of them before being forced to suspend the operation due to bad conditions.

A team of 45 rescuers, police and a helicopter continued the search on Monday and found the bodies of two climbers at a height of 1,800m.

"All three were killed," rescue team leader Miha Arh told a news conference attended by Slovenian and Croatian interior ministers.

"The operation was dangerous and difficult for the rescuers," he said, adding that the helicopter could not take off from the ground due to bad weather and had to start on Monday from a nearby mountain peak to reach the location revealed by a telephone signal from one of the climbers.

Arh said wet snow and wind probably caused the avalanche.

The three climbers were part of a group of Croats from the Adriatic city of Split.

Snow fell on the mountains across Southeastern Europe last week, following a spell of unusually high temperatures.

Interior Minister Bostjan Poklukar urged people not to go to the mountains.

"There has been quite a bit of snow ... and conditions are extremely challenging so I advise against any trip to the mountains, as we do not want to put mountain rescuers and helicopter crews in danger," Poklukar said.