ROME, January 5 (RIA Novosti) – Six foreign tourists, presumably of Russian origin, have been killed in a tragic accident in the Italian Alps when their rented snowmobile tipped over and fell into a deep ravine, the Italian media reported.

Two other victims were seriously injured in the accident at Cermis in the Trentino province late on Friday and flown by army helicopters to nearby hospitals.

According to mountain rescue officials cited by the media, the accident occurred on a steep slope at the altitude of 2,000 meters while the eight were traversing a closed ‘black’ track most likely on the way from a restaurant to their hotel.

The driver apparently lost control of the snowmobile and the vehicle broke through the safety nets, plunging about 100 meters down the slope.

Some of the passengers were thrown on the track itself, while others were found among the surrounding rocks and trees, farther down the cliff, the rescuers said.

An investigation is still underway, and neither the Italian authorities nor the Russian embassy officially confirmed the nationality of the victims.