At least five people have been killed in a series of avalanches in Austria, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The incidents occurred in the Tirol and Vorarlberg regions following prolonged heavy snowfall and strong winds.
In the St Anton am Arlberg area, five off-piste skiers were caught in a 450-metre-wide avalanche on Friday afternoon. Police confirmed that an American and a Polish national were among the dead, while a 21-year-old Austrian died later in hospital. Rescue teams, including dog squads, were deployed.
Earlier on Friday, a 42-year-old German man and his 16-year-old son were caught in an avalanche at the Nauders-Bergkastel resort. The teenager survived with injuries and raised the alarm, but his father was killed. In Klösterle, Vorarlberg, a 39-year-old Swiss snowboarder died in a separate off-piste avalanche.
Tirol's governor, Anton Mattle, expressed sorrow over the fatalities, noting that recent snowfall had drawn many people to the mountains. His office reported nearly three dozen avalanche incidents on Friday alone, with over 200 in the past week. Eleven people have died in avalanches this month.
The region warned that no relief is expected on Sunday, with turbulent weather continuing. Authorities urged caution, especially for off-piste activities.
