Five individuals lost their lives following two distinct avalanches in the Austrian Alps today, as per reports.
Several tourists in the picturesque Salzburg mountains in the Pongau region witnessed a tragic event today (Saturday, January 17) when an off-piste avalanche buried eight skiers under the snow.
Local broadcaster ORF reported that the incident resulted in the deaths of four individuals and left one seriously injured, prompting a deployment of 90 rescuers to the scene to search for survivors.
In another unfortunate event in the Alps on the same day, a woman skiing in the area was reportedly swept away by a snow landslide, with her husband sounding the alarm.
These incidents occurred amidst significant snowfall in the Alps over the past week, leading authorities to caution tourists about skiing activities.
Gerhard Kremser, district manager of the Pongau mountain rescue service, expressed deep sympathy for the affected families, emphasizing the seriousness of the current avalanche situation.
Recent tragedies in the Austrian Alps include the death of a 13-year-old girl in Bad Gastein due to an avalanche while skiing off-piste on Tuesday, and the passing of a 58-year-old skier in an avalanche in Weerberg in the Tyrolean resort the previous Sunday.
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