Five people have died in a series of avalanches across western Austria over the weekend, including an American and a German father, authorities said Saturday. The avalanches, triggered by heavy snowfall and strong winds, have struck popular skiing areas in the Tyrol and Vorarlberg regions.
Tyrol police reported that five off-piste skiers were caught in an avalanche approximately 450 meters (490 yards) wide on Friday afternoon in the St. Anton am Arlberg area, at an altitude of around 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). The victims included an American citizen, a Polish national, and a 21-year-old Austrian who succumbed to injuries after being hospitalized. Dozens of mountain rescue personnel, ambulance crews, fire department staff, and dog teams were involved in the recovery operation.
Separately, in the Nauders-Bergkastel resort, a 42-year-old German man was killed in an avalanche on Friday morning although skiing with his 16-year-old son. The son survived, sustaining injuries, and was able to call for support. A 39-year-old Swiss snowboarder also died after being caught in an avalanche in an off-piste area near Klösterle in the neighboring Vorarlberg region, according to regional police.
The Tyrol region government stated that intense snowfall over the past week has resulted in accumulations of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet). Combined with windy conditions and a weak snowpack, the conditions have created a particularly high risk of avalanches. The region has experienced nearly three dozen avalanche incidents in the last week alone, with a total of 11 avalanche-related fatalities this month, and eight in the previous month.
The avalanche risk remains high in parts of Tyrol, with authorities warning that avalanches are likely to occur, particularly in off-piste areas. Tyrol governor Anton Mattle issued a statement acknowledging the recent deaths and the high number of avalanche incidents. “It is painful that we have already had to record several avalanches with injuries and fatalities,” he said.
In a separate incident on Friday, a 53-year-old man died in Linz after being crushed by a snow plough while clearing snow. The vehicle slid down a staircase, fatally injuring the man.
Authorities have indicated that the turbulent weather conditions are expected to continue on Sunday, maintaining the elevated avalanche risk.
