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Five skiers have been killed in a pair of avalanches on Saturday in the Salzburg Pongau region of western Austria, according to authorities.
Four skiers were killed in a snow slide in the Gastein Valley, south of the city of Salzburg, that swept away seven people. Officials say two people sustained injuries, one of them in critical condition, while a third person escaped unharmed.
“This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is,” said Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, noting the “clear and repeated warnings” about the avalanche risk.
Four rescue helicopters, mountain rescue and Red Cross dog teams, and a crisis intervention team were rushed to the scene to aid the wounded and locate the bodies.
Just hours before, a female skier was found buried under an avalanche in the nearby Bad Hofgastein area, at an altitude of about 2,200 metres. Authorities say other avalanches were recorded in the area, but thankfully, resulted in no casualties.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is,” added Kremser.
Avalanches in the region are a regular occurrence at this time of the year. On Tuesday, a 13-year-old boy was killed after an avalanche swept him away while skiing. A 58-year-olf skier was killed the week before in a similar incident.
Authorities are urging skiers to exercise caution and heed official advice and weather warnings as to avoid risks of serious injuries or death.
Additional sources • AP