5 skiers killed in a pair of avalanches in Austria
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Five skiers were killed in two avalanches in the Salzburg Pongau region of western Austria on Saturday, with four dying in the Gastein Valley and one in Bad Hofgastein.
- The avalanche in the Gastein Valley swept away seven people, resulting in two injuries and one person escaping unharmed.
- Authorities emphasized the severity of the current avalanche risk, citing clear and repeated warnings prior to the incidents.
- Rescue efforts involved four helicopters, mountain rescue teams, Red Cross dog units, and a crisis intervention team.
- The fatal avalanche in Bad Hofgastein occurred about 90 minutes before the Gastein Valley incident, at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters (7,200 feet
