Austria: Five dead in an avalanche accident in Tyrol
Status: 04.02.2022 5:31 p.m
Five people were killed in an avalanche in the Austrian Tyrol. One person was injured. Almost early in the ski resort of Sölden, five winter sports enthusiasts were buried by an avalanche – they could be rescued.
Five people were killed in an avalanche in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Initially, four victims were mentioned. One person was injured in Switzerland, said a police spokesman for the dpa news agency. The accident happened in the Spiss area, a town on the Swiss border. Several helicopters fly to the scene. The police were initially unable to provide any information on the exact course of events, the origin and the age of the other victims.
A police spokesman said that emergency services were looking for more victims in the avalanche cone in the afternoon.
Thomas Bucher, German Alpine Club, with details on the avalanche accident
tagesschau24 5:00 p.m., 4.2.2022
Five people buried in Sölden
Almost at the same time, an avalanche buried five winter sports enthusiasts on a secured slope in the popular ski resort of Sölden. They were recovered alive. Four of them injured are taken to the hospital.
The slab of snow was apparently triggered by the winter sports enthusiasts themselves in the terrain, said the head of the Sölden mountain railway, Jakob Falkner.
Great avalanche danger in Tyrol
After heavy snowfall in the past few days, Tyrol was level 3 on the five-part avalanche danger scale. According to experts, most avalanche accidents happen at this level. According to the avalanche warning service, there were almost 60 avalanches in Austria yesterday and today. Today was the most serious avalanche day of the winter season up to that point.
Experts from the avalanche warning service warn that dry avalanches could also be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts.
“All warnings are useless”
The head of the Tyrolean avalanche warning service, Rudi Mair, said in view of the numerous incidents: “It makes me sad, but I’m also shocked and angry that all the warnings are of no use.” The critical conditions have been pointed out for days. Ski tours and off-piste descents currently require a lot of experience in assessing the avalanche danger.
The Tiroler Tageszeitung reports that the avalanche situation has also called the army into action. Together with an air rescuer, an army transport helicopter is available for reconnaissance flights, avalanche blasting and transport tasks. In addition, the military command formed its avalanche rescue teams.
Four dead in the avalanche accident in Tyrol
Clemens Verenkotte, ARD Vienna, February 4, 2022 4:13 p.m