Five individuals lost their lives today following two separate avalanches in the Austrian Alps. Tourists in the Salzburg mountains’ Pongau region witnessed a tragic incident as an off-piste avalanche buried eight skiers under snow, resulting in four fatalities and one serious injury. Local broadcaster ORF reported the incident, prompting a response from 90 rescuers searching for survivors.
In another unfortunate event, a woman skiing in the same area was swept away by a snowslide earlier today, with her husband raising the alarm. These incidents occurred amid significant snowfall in the Alps over the past week, leading authorities to caution skiers about the risks.
Gerhard Kremser, the district manager of the Pongau mountain rescue service, expressed condolences to the affected families, emphasizing the severity of the current avalanche situation. Tragic incidents like these underscore the dangers posed by avalanches in the region.
Recent weeks have seen other avalanche-related fatalities in Austria, including a 13-year-old girl in Bad Gastein and a 58-year-old skier in Weerberg. These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with off-piste skiing in Alpine regions.