Emergency services in Austria are dealing with the tragic aftermath of multiple fatal avalanches that struck the country's Alps on Saturday, claiming the lives of eight people. The incidents have prompted urgent renewed warnings from mountain rescue teams for skiers to heed avalanche danger alerts.
Separate Incidents Claim Lives in Styria and Salzburg
In a devastating incident in the Murtal district of Styria, central Austria, an avalanche swept through a group of seven Czech ski tourers. Police confirmed that three members of the party were completely buried. "Emergency responders were able to locate and partially dig out the buried victims," a police statement said, but despite immediate efforts, all three were found dead.
Earlier on the same day, in the Pongau area near Salzburg, another avalanche hit a group of seven off-piste skiers. This event proved even more deadly, killing four people and seriously injuring a fifth. Media reports citing local rescuers detailed the scale of the tragedy. In a separate but related incident in Pongau, another off-piste skier was swept away by a slide.
Rescuers Issue Stern Warning After "Painful" Tragedy
The head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, Gerhard Kremser, expressed frustration and sorrow at the day's events. "Despite clear and repeated warnings, numerous avalanches occurred again today – unfortunately with fatal consequences," he was quoted as saying. He added that the tragedy "painfully demonstrates the seriousness of the current avalanche situation."
The fatalities on Saturday are part of a deadly pattern across the Alpine region following periods of heavy snowfall. The recent victims include:
- A 13-year-old Czech skier killed off-piste in Bad Gastein on Tuesday.
- A 58-year-old ski tourer who died in an avalanche in Weerberg, Tyrol, last Sunday.
Alpine-Wide Danger Following Heavy Snowfall
The avalanche risk is not confined to Austria. In neighbouring Switzerland, a German man was killed and four others injured in an avalanche while cross-country skiing on Friday. The situation in the French Alps has also been severe, with six skiers losing their lives in avalanches across various resorts last weekend.
This series of incidents underscores the volatile and highly dangerous conditions currently present in the Alps. Authorities continue to stress that skiers and tourers must consult daily avalanche bulletins, avoid off-piste areas when warnings are in effect, and carry appropriate safety equipment, including transceivers, probes, and shovels.
