A series of deadly avalanches in the Austrian Alps has killed at least eight skiers and injured several others, in one of the most severe snow-related disasters of the current winter season, authorities said on Monday.
The incidents occurred across three different regions in Austria while the victims were skiing off marked and secured slopes, despite repeated warnings from local authorities about the heightened risk of avalanches.
According to reports, the first avalanche struck near the town of Bad Hofgastein, where a female skier was swept away while skiing with her husband.
Rescue teams were unable to save her despite extensive efforts.
Hours later, another avalanche hit the Grossarltal valley, engulfing a group of seven skiers.
Four of them were killed, while the remaining three sustained varying injuries. Later in the day, a third avalanche in the municipality of Pusterwald in the state of Styria claimed the lives of three Czech skiers. Four others were transported to hospitals for urgent medical treatment.
Around 90 rescue personnel were deployed to respond to the incidents, with helicopters used to evacuate the injured and reach remote areas.
Gerhard Kreimser, head of the Pongau rescue service, stressed that the tragedies highlight the dangers of off-piste skiing and the importance of adhering to weather warnings and avalanche alerts.
These incidents are not the first of their kind this winter.
Earlier, a 13-year-old Czech boy was killed in a separate avalanche, while a 58-year-old female skier died in the Tyrol region just days ago.
Similar tragedies were also reported in the French Alps last weekend, where six people lost their lives.
The latest avalanches underscore the continued high risk in the Austrian Alps during winter and reinforce calls from authorities for skiers to strictly follow safety guidelines, which could save lives amid increasingly dangerous snow conditions.
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