Three winter sports enthusiasts died in avalanches in Austria's Tirol and Vorarlberg regions, including two Germans. The incidents occurred during tours and off secured pistes despite high avalanche risk. In Salzburg, one person survived.
Three people died in avalanche incidents in Austria's Tirol and Vorarlberg regions on Tuesday. Two victims were from Germany, and the third from the Netherlands. Police reported more than 30 avalanches in Tirol alone that day. Warning services had issued the second-highest danger level in Tirol and Vorarlberg.
In Tirol's Navistal in the Tuxer Alpen, an avalanche struck two tourers heading to Geier (2,857 meters). The 44-year-old German was fully buried and died at the scene. His companion, only partially buried, freed himself and dug out the man but could not save him. Another source gives the victim's age as 43 and his origin as Ostalbkreis.
In Fiss in Tirol's Landeck district, a 71-year-old Dutchman died on the closed Adlerroute. He was without an avalanche transceiver when three winter sports enthusiasts were caught. He was the only one without such a device.
At Vorarlberg's Sonnenkopf ski area in Klostertal, a 42-year-old German from Lörrach district was swept away while snowboarding off-piste. His 15-year-old son alerted rescuers, who found the father after an hour. He had already died at the site. In southern Vorarlberg, the second-highest level applied above 1,800 meters.
In Salzburg's Großarltal, a 70-year-old ski tourer survived an avalanche. His companions partially dug him out, and emergency services and a doctor fully rescued him. Two snowboarders had already died at Tirol's Stubai Glacier on Monday. The avalanche situation in western Austria remains tense.
