Five people killed and one left injured after avalanche hits Austrian Alps

The identities and nationalities of the victims have not yet been released as it was reportedly an unusually dangerous day in the Alps in the Austrian province of Tyrol, after heavy snowfall was followed by warmer weather

Rescue workers are on the Rettenbach Glacier near Sölden after five people have been rescued after an avalanche

An avalanche in the Austrian Alps killed five people today.

It was said to have been an unusually dangerous day in the Alps in the Austrian province of Tyrol, after heavy snowfall was followed by warmer weather.

A rescue official said today: “Sadly, five people have lost their lives.”

The fifth victim was initially reported missing but was later confirmed dead.

A sixth person is said to have suffered minor injuries, the local emergency control center confirmed on Friday afternoon.

The identities and nationalities of the victims have not yet been released.

It is not yet known if they were skiing or participating in any other activity.

Five people tragically died in today’s avalanche
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Image:

Alamy Stock Photo)

According to official information, at least 31 different avalanches were reported today.

Four of them injured people – including one who swept down a ski slope in the resort of Sölden, where five people were rescued, said the head of the Tyrolean rescue service control center, Patrick Ortler.

Rescue helicopters from Switzerland and Austria were deployed near the scene.

More than 50 avalanches were registered in the region within 48 hours.

More than 50 avalanches were registered in the region within 48 hours
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Image:

Getty Images)

The weather services had called for caution after several snowfalls this week.

About 20 people are killed by avalanches in Austria each year, but the last two seasons have been less deadly due to fewer skiers in the coronavirus pandemic.

Last January, a British chef was killed in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps while he was off-piste skiing.

The 38-year-old, known to friends as Jamie Clark, was a budding chocolatier who had lived at least part of the last decade in Verbier.

Originally from Doncaster in South Yorkshire, Mr Clark was among 10 people who were swept off the slopes of the popular alpine resort east of Geneva.

Eight escaped unharmed, local police said, while one was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

The avalanche occurred off-piste between the Verbier ski area and ‘Les Attelas’ at a risk of three to five, which means “considerable” danger.

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