8 Killed In 3 Avalanches In Austrian Alps, Rescuers Urge Skiers To Heed Warnings

Last Updated:January 18, 2026, 17:59 IST

At least eight people died in three avalanches in the Austrian Alps, affecting Czech ski tourers in Murtal and skiers in Pongau near Salzburg, despite repeated avalanche warnings.

At least eight people were killed in a three separate avalanches across the Austrian Alps, police and mountain rescue services said.

AFP quoted the police saying in a statement that an avalanche swept away three of a group of seven Czech ski tourers in the Murtal district in Styria province on Saturday.

“Emergency responders were able to locate and partially dig out the buried victims. Despite immediate rescue efforts, the three individuals were found dead," the police statement said, adding that their four companions were evacuated and given medical attention.

Another four were killed when an avalanche hit another group of seven off-piste skiers in the Pongau area near Salzburg. Another avalanche swept away an off-piste skier in the same area.

“Despite clear and repeated warnings, numerous avalanches occurred again today – unfortunately with fatal consequences," Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, was quoted as saying.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is," he added.

Let us know more about avalanche and what can one do when stuck in such

What Is An Avalanche?

When an unstable mass of snow breaks away from a slope, an avalanche occurs. As it descends, the snow accelerates, creating a river of snow and an ice cloud that rises far into the air.

The moving mass picks up even more snow as it rushes downhill. A large, fully developed avalanche can weigh as much as a million tonnes. It can travel faster than 320 km per hour.

Avalanches take place as layers in a snowpack slide off. A snowpack is layers of snow that build up in an area, such as the side of a mountain. In winter, repeated snowfalls build a snowpack, which is dozens of metres thick, as per Geographic.

Large clearings or tree chutes missing from an avalanche offer hints as to the route of the slide. The runout zone, where snow and debris accumulate, is where the avalanche eventually comes to an end.

During spring, melted snow can seep through a snowpack, making the surface of a lower layer slippery. Added weight or vibration can send the top layers of a snowpack hurtling downhill.

What To Do When Stuck In An Avalanche?

When an avalanche starts:

Try to escape sidewaysMove to the side of the slide, not downhill.Drop heavy gear (skis, poles, backpack if quick-release).Fight to stay on topUse swimming motions with your arms.Keep your head uphill if possible.Protect your airwayJust before the snow stops, cover your mouth and nose with one hand.Try to create a small air pocket in front of your face.

World’s Most Fatal Avalanches

During World War I, more than 60,000 Italian and Austrian troops died in avalanches in the Alps. More than 10,000 died in a single day on December 13, 1916. Avalanches killed more soldiers in World War I than poison gas did.

In February 1910, a terrible blizzard struck the US town of Wellington, Washington. The nine-day snowfall trapped two trains in the town’s depot. On March 1, a thunderstorm unleashed an avalanche, sending a 10-foot wall of snow toward the town, killing 96 people.

In 1970, a massive avalanche of rocks and ice destroyed the town of Yungay, Peru, killing 18,000 people.

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