Vienna, Austria
AP
—
Five skiers have been killed Saturday in a pair of avalanches in the Salzburg Pongau area of western Austria, authorities mentioned.
Four skiers have been killed by a snow slide in the Gastein Valley, south of of the town of Salzburg, that swept away seven folks. Two have been injured — one critically — and a third escaped unhurt, the Austria Press Agency (APA) reported.
“This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is,” mentioned Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service. He famous “clear and repeated warnings” concerning the avalanche threat.
Four rescue helicopters, mountain rescue and Red Cross canine groups and a disaster intervention crew have been rushed to the scene.
(*5*)
About 90 minutes earlier, a feminine skier died after being buried underneath an avalanche in the close by Bad Hofgastein space, at an altitude of about 2,200 meters (7,200 toes), APA mentioned.