At least five people have been killed in two separate avalanche incidents in Austria, according to local mountain rescue services, highlighting ongoing safety risks amid winter conditions in the Alpine region.
A spokesperson for the Salzburg Mountain Rescue Service told Germany’s DPA news agency that seven people were buried by an avalanche on Saturday afternoon near the summit of Finsterkopf, which rises to about 2,150 meters in the Grossarl Valley in the Austrian state of Salzburg.
Rescue teams later confirmed that four members of a skiing group were found dead at the scene, while the remaining victims sustained serious injuries and were taken for medical treatment.
Earlier the same day, a woman was killed in a separate avalanche in the Bad Hofgastein area, also in Salzburg state, bringing the total death toll to five.
Authorities said rescue operations were carried out under difficult conditions, and they renewed warnings to skiers and mountaineers to closely monitor avalanche forecasts and follow safety guidance when travelling in high-altitude terrain.
Austria experiences frequent avalanches during the winter season, particularly after heavy snowfall or sudden changes in temperature. Emergency services continue to urge caution as unstable snow conditions persist across several Alpine regions.
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