Eight people have lost their lives in separate avalanches across the Austrian Alps on Saturday, as rescue services issued urgent pleas for skiers to respect severe weather warnings. The tragic incidents occurred in the Salzburg Pongau region and the Murtal district of Styria, highlighting the extreme danger posed by recent heavy snowfall.
Multiple Tragedies Across Alpine Regions
In a devastating day for the Alps, three Czech skiers were killed in the Murtal district. They were part of a group of seven ski tourers caught by an avalanche that completely buried them. Police confirmed that emergency responders located and partially dug out the victims, but they were pronounced dead at the scene despite immediate rescue efforts.
Earlier on Saturday, another avalanche struck in the Pongau area near Salzburg. This incident involved a group of seven off-piste skiers, resulting in four fatalities and leaving one person with serious injuries. In a separate event in the same region, another off-piste skier was swept away by an avalanche earlier that day.
Rescuers Issue Stern Warning to Skiers
Gerhard Kremser, the district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, expressed frustration and sorrow at the preventable loss of life. He stated that numerous avalanches had occurred despite clear and repeated warnings being issued. "This tragedy painfully demonstrates the seriousness of the current avalanche situation," Kremser was quoted as saying.
The recent fatalities are part of a deadly pattern across the Alpine region following periods of significant snowfall. Key incidents from the past week 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 the Tyrolean resort of Weerberg last Sunday.
Broader Alpine Avalanche Crisis
The danger is not confined to Austria. In neighbouring Switzerland, a German man died and four others were injured in an avalanche while cross-country skiing on Friday. Furthermore, last weekend in France, six skiers died after being caught in avalanches at various Alpine resorts.
The sequence of events underscores a critical and widespread avalanche risk across the European Alps. Authorities continue to stress that all skiers and winter sports enthusiasts must:
- Heed official avalanche warnings and bulletins without exception.
- Avoid off-piste areas unless equipped with proper training and safety gear.
- Understand that conditions can change rapidly and are currently highly unstable.
The death toll serves as a sombre reminder of the powerful and unpredictable force of nature in mountain environments, particularly during winter.
