(Austria, 18th) Multiple avalanches occurred in the Austrian Alps, resulting in eight deaths. Local newspapers dubbed the day a “Black Saturday.”
Xinhua News Agency, citing Austria's largest newspaper, Kronen Zeitung, reported that on Saturday (January 17) afternoon, an avalanche in the Pusterwald region of Styria killed three people.
Two avalanches also struck Salzburg in western Austria, resulting in five deaths.
The first avalanche occurred around noon that day, at an altitude of 2,200 meters in the Bad Hofgastein region, where one person was buried in the avalanche and died in the mountains. The second avalanche happened in the Finsterkopf area of the Grossarl Valley, where a total of seven people were swept away by the avalanche. Four died and three survived.
The first avalanche occurred around noon that day, at an altitude of 2,200 meters in the Bad Hofgastein region, where one person was buried in the avalanche and died in the mountains. The second avalanche happened in the Finsterkopf area of the Grossarl Valley, where a total of seven people were swept away by the avalanche. Four died and three survived.
Since last week’s heavy snowfall, multiple avalanches have occurred throughout the Alps, resulting in numerous casualties.
According to AFP, the head of the local Pongau mountain rescue team, Kremser, said: “Despite repeated clear warnings, multiple avalanches occurred again today, unfortunately causing fatalities. This painful tragedy shows the severity of the current avalanche situation.”
The Salzburg Avalanche Warning Center raised the danger level to “Level 3” on Saturday, indicating considerable danger.
According to AFP, the head of the local Pongau mountain rescue team, Kremser, said: “Despite repeated clear warnings, multiple avalanches occurred again today, unfortunately causing fatalities. This painful tragedy shows the severity of the current avalanche situation.”
The Salzburg Avalanche Warning Center raised the danger level to “Level 3” on Saturday, indicating considerable danger.
On Tuesday (the 13th), a 13-year-old Czech boy was buried and killed by an avalanche while skiing off-piste at the Bad Gastein resort in the Austrian Alps.
Last weekend, a 58-year-old ski mountaineer was killed by an avalanche at the Wildberg resort in Tyrol, western Austria.
In neighboring Switzerland, a German man was buried and killed by an avalanche while cross-country skiing on Friday (the 16th); four others were injured.
Several avalanches occurred at French Alpine resorts last weekend as well, resulting in the deaths of six skiers.