EuroWire, VIENNA: Eight people were killed in three separate avalanches in the Austrian Alps over the weekend, authorities said, as mountain rescue teams urged skiers and tourers to heed warnings amid unstable snow conditions.
The dead included a woman in the Bad Hofgastein area of Salzburg state who was buried around 2,200 meters above sea level, and four people swept away later in the Gastein Valley after a slide hit a group of seven. Two people in that second incident were seriously injured and one person escaped without injury, officials said.
In a third avalanche, three members of a Czech ski touring group were killed in the Pusterwald area of Styria in central Austria. Four others from that group were rescued and transported from the mountain, authorities said. The incidents occurred on Saturday as many people headed into backcountry terrain during a winter period marked by heavy snowfall.
Rescue services said multiple teams were deployed across the affected regions, using probes, avalanche transceivers, dogs and helicopters where conditions allowed. Officials said the response was complicated by the speed and force of the slides and by the challenges of locating and reaching buried victims in deep debris fields.
Avalanche incidents across Salzburg and Styria
In Bad Hofgastein, responders were called after the skier failed to return, and she was later recovered from the avalanche area, authorities said. In the Gastein Valley incident, officials said a group was caught in the slide about 90 minutes after the earlier avalanche, triggering an emergency operation that involved mountain rescue, helicopter crews and medical personnel.
In Styria, authorities said the Czech group was ski touring when the avalanche struck in the Pusterwald area. Three people died at the scene, and four were taken to safety. Officials did not immediately release identities, citing notification procedures, and said investigative work on the circumstances would follow standard protocols for fatal mountain accidents.
Austria’s avalanche services and local rescue organizations said the risk had been elevated in parts of the Alps following recent snowfall and wind, which can form unstable layers and slabs on leeward slopes. They said public bulletins and resort-area advisories had warned of hazardous conditions, and urged backcountry users to adjust plans, avoid steep avalanche-prone terrain, and respect closures and posted guidance.
Warnings renewed as off-piste traffic rises
Mountain rescue officials said the weekend incidents underscore the dangers of ski touring and off-piste travel when snowpack stability is poor. They urged anyone traveling outside controlled ski areas to carry essential safety equipment, including transceivers, shovels and probes, and to ensure companions are trained to use them. Officials also emphasized the importance of checking regional avalanche forecasts before entering alpine terrain.
Authorities said they were coordinating with local administrations and, where relevant, consular channels following the deaths involving foreign nationals. Recovery and administrative procedures continued into Sunday in some locations due to weather, terrain and the need to work carefully in avalanche debris. Officials said additional details would be released by regional authorities as confirmed information becomes available.
The avalanches add to a season of heightened concern for winter safety across the Alps, where periods of heavy snow have drawn large crowds to mountain areas and increased backcountry activity. Austrian rescue officials reiterated that avalanche conditions can change rapidly with weather and wind, and said travelers should use marked routes and follow official guidance when planning mountain outings.