VIENNA — A devastating series of avalanches struck the Salzburg Pongau region of western Austria on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of five skiers and multiple injuries despite repeated official warnings about dangerous mountain conditions.
The first incident occurred in the Gastein Valley, south of Salzburg, where a massive snow slide engulfed seven skiers. Four individuals perished in the avalanche, while two sustained injuries—one with serious trauma. A seventh member of the group managed to escape physically unharmed, according to the Austrian Press Agency (APA).
Approximately ninety minutes prior to this tragedy, a separate avalanche in the Bad Hofgastein area claimed the life of a female skier at approximately 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) elevation.
Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, addressed the catastrophic events, stating: ‘This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is.’ He emphasized that authorities had issued ‘clear and repeated warnings’ regarding the elevated avalanche risk in the region.
Emergency response teams mobilized extensive resources including four rescue helicopters, specialized mountain rescue units, Red Cross canine search teams, and crisis intervention personnel to assist with recovery operations and provide support to survivors and families.
The incidents highlight the critical importance of heeding official avalanche warnings during winter sports activities in alpine regions, particularly following recent heavy snowfall and unstable weather conditions that have created potentially lethal slab avalanches across the Austrian Alps.