Two avalanches hit Austria's Salzburg Pongau region on Jan. 17 about 90 minutes apart after heavy snowfall, killing five people and injuring two. The first slide near Bad Hofgastein killed a female skier at roughly 7,200 feet; the second in the Gastein Valley swept away seven people, killing four and seriously injuring one. A large rescue operation deployed helicopters, dog teams and crisis units as authorities reiterated repeated avalanche warnings. Investigations and recovery efforts were ongoing.
Five Killed, Two Injured in Back-to-Back Avalanches in Western Austria
GettyStock image of a mountain range
Two powerful avalanches struck Austria's Salzburg Pongau region on Saturday, Jan. 17, killing five people and injuring two after a period of heavy snowfall, authorities and international outlets reported.
The first slide occurred near the spa town of Bad Hofgastein at an elevation of roughly 7,200 feet and buried a skier identified only as a woman, who later died, the Austria Press Agency (APA) said. About 90 minutes later, a second avalanche hit the Gastein Valley and swept away seven people; four of them were killed and two were pulled from the snow alive, one with serious injuries.
GettyStock image of an avalanche warning on a ski slope
Rescue Efforts and Response
The response to the second avalanche was substantial. Local mountain rescue teams were joined by four rescue helicopters, a crisis intervention team and Red Cross search dog units to search and recover victims and assess the slopes, the APA reported. Emergency crews continued recovery operations and investigations into the circumstances of both slides.
Warnings and Local Context
Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, said authorities had issued "clear and repeated warnings" about high avalanche danger in the region. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families," Kremser said. "This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is."
GettyStock image of danger signs on an Austrian ski slope
Local media also reported several smaller avalanches in the Pongau area around midday the same day that did not result in additional injuries. The attacks come amid a spate of deadly snow slides in western Austria; within the past week separate avalanches claimed the lives of a 13-year-old boy and a 58-year-old man who were skiing at resorts in the region, the BBC reported.
Ongoing Work
Investigations and recovery operations were ongoing as authorities worked to account for everyone involved and to reassess conditions across the region. Officials continue to urge skiers, snowmobilers and backcountry visitors to heed avalanche advisories and avoid exposed slopes until conditions stabilize.
Sources: Austria Press Agency (APA), BBC, ABC News, CNN.
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