At a Glance
- Two avalanches struck western Austria on January 17, about 90 minutes apart
- Five people died and two were injured in the Salzburg Pongau region
- Both slides followed heavy snowfall and repeated official warnings
- Why it matters: The tragedy highlights the extreme danger skiers face during the current avalanche season
Two back-to-back avalanches killed five people in western Austria on Saturday, officials confirmed, as heavy snowfall heightened mountain hazards across the region.
The first slide struck near Bad Hofgastein at roughly 7,200 feet, claiming the life of a female skier, according to outlets citing the Austria Press Agency. Approximately 90 minutes later, a second avalanche in the Gastein Valley swept away seven people, killing four and seriously injuring two.
Emergency crews mobilized four rescue helicopters, a crisis-intervention team, and Red Cross dog teams to the Gastein Valley site. The extensive response underscored the perilous conditions that had prompted repeated alerts from mountain-rescue services.
Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain-rescue service, told the APA that “clear and repeated warnings” had been issued before the tragedies.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families,” Kremser said. “This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is.”
The fatal slides were part of a broader pattern. Around midday on the same day, several additional avalanches occurred across the Pongau region, though no further injuries were reported.
Recent weeks have seen other deadly snow slides in western Austria. A 13-year-old boy and a 58-year-old man died in separate skiing incidents during the preceding week, bringing the total death toll from Austrian avalanches in the period to seven.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims from the January 17 slides. Mountain-rescue teams continue to urge skiers and hikers to heed avalanche bulletins and avoid off-piste routes amid the heightened risk.
Avalanche Timeline
| Time | Location | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Bad Hofgastein | 1 death | |
| ~90 min later | Gastein Valley | 4 deaths | 2 injuries |
| Midday | Other Pongau sites | No injuries reported |
Key Takeaways
- Heavy snowfall preceded both fatal slides
- Rescue teams deployed helicopters and specialized dog units
- Officials stress that warnings were issued before the incidents
- Seven avalanche-related deaths have occurred in western Austria within one week
