Eight Killed in Avalanches in Austrian Alps

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Vienna: At least eight people have been killed in a series of avalanches across the Austrian Alps, prompting mountain rescue services to urge skiers and tourers to heed repeated safety warnings amid dangerous conditions.

Police said three Czech ski tourers were killed on Saturday after an avalanche swept through the Murtal district in Austria’s Styria province. The victims were part of a group of seven and were completely buried by the snow.

“Emergency responders were able to locate and partially dig out the buried victims,” police said in a statement, adding that despite immediate rescue efforts, all three were found dead.

Earlier the same day, another avalanche struck a group of seven off-piste skiers in the Pongau region near Salzburg, killing four people and seriously injuring one other, according to media reports citing rescuers. A separate avalanche in the same area also swept away an off-piste skier.

“Despite clear and repeated warnings, numerous avalanches occurred again today – unfortunately with fatal consequences,” said Gerhard Kremser, head of the Pongau mountain rescue service. “This tragedy painfully demonstrates the seriousness of the current avalanche situation.”

Avalanches have claimed multiple lives across the Alps in recent days following heavy snowfall. Earlier this week, a 13-year-old Czech skier was killed while skiing off-piste in the resort of Bad Gastein, while a 58-year-old ski tourer died last Sunday in an avalanche in Weerberg, western Austria.

In neighbouring Switzerland, a German man was killed and four others were injured in an avalanche while cross-country skiing on Friday. In France, six skiers died last weekend after being caught in avalanches at several Alpine resorts.

Rescue authorities across the region continue to warn that avalanche risks remain high and have urged skiers to avoid off-piste areas and follow official safety guidance.