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Mushroom Picker Deaths in Northern Italy

At least 18 people have been killed in the space of ten days in accidents while mushroom picking in the mountains of northern Italy. Seven of the deaths occurred in Lombardy, while others happened in Piedmont; most involved falls into rocky crevasses and gorges.

Collecting wild mushrooms is a popular pastime in Italy, and this year the weather conditions - a hot summer punctuated by storms - have produced a particularly early and bountiful harvest. As a result, there has been a surge in the number of enthusiasts, known as fungaioli, who are willing to take risks in the hunt for their delicacies. Mountain-rescue chiefs said that many hunters were venturing into remote areas without the proper equipment.

(Courtesy of www.ontheroad.co.uk)