ALBAWABA - Two consecutive avalanches have killed several people in western Austria, in yet another incident highlighting the dangers of winter weather in mountainous regions.
The Austrian Press Agency (APA) reported that five skiers were killed in two separate avalanches on Saturday in the Pongau region of Salzburg state, following heavy snowfall.
The first avalanche reportedly occurred near the town of Bad Hofgastein at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters, resulting in one fatality.
About 90 minutes later, a second, more deadly avalanche struck the Gastein Valley in the Salzburg region, killing four of the seven people swept away by the snow and injuring two others, one seriously, according to media reports citing official sources.
Gerhard Kremser, head of the mountain rescue department, said the area had been subject to "clear and repeated warnings" about the risk of avalanches.
He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and stressed that the incident reflects the severity of the current situation.
