Serious Avalanche Conditions in Austria Result in Seven Fatalities

Heavy snowfall and rainfall in the Alpine region have led to extremely hazardous avalanche conditions, claiming the lives of seven winter sports enthusiasts in Austria since Friday. Authorities have responded by closing numerous ski lifts and slopes in popular resorts such as Arlberg and Sölden due to the increased risk. Experts caution that a recent rise in temperatures will not ease the situation in the immediate future, and winter sports participants are being strongly urged to remain on marked trails and avoid off-piste areas.

Over the past several days, nearly half a meter of new snow has accumulated across the region. The avalanche risk is also elevated in other parts of Europe. In northern Italy, two individuals lost their lives in separate avalanche incidents. In South Tyrol, a man was fatally buried by a snow slide in the Meran 2000 ski and hiking area, while another victim was found in the Aosta Valley near the Swiss border at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

Germany's southern regions, particularly in Bavaria, are experiencing above-freezing temperatures at elevations up to 2,000 meters. The German Weather Service (DWD) has reported ongoing thaw conditions, which, when combined with rain and fresh snow, are weakening the snowpack. Avalanche warnings remain in effect, particularly above 1,600 meters, and experts caution that even minor triggers could release snow slides capable of impacting exposed paths and routes.

Elsewhere in Europe, Slovenia and Hungary have also faced the consequences of intense snowfall. In Slovenia, approximately 30,000 households lost power as snow disrupted electrical infrastructure, though the situation has started to normalize as precipitation eased. Western Hungary reported significant new snow--up to 36 centimeters in Köszeg and 27 centimeters in Sopron--along with strong winds causing drifts, although conditions began to improve by Sunday.

In Austria, dozens of avalanches have been recorded since Friday. On Saturday, two additional winter sports participants died. One fatality occurred in Serfaus, Tyrol, where a 41-year-old was swept away by a snow slab while skiing off-piste. Despite being rescued from a depth of about two and a half meters, the individual succumbed to injuries in hospital. Another fatality involved a 21-year-old Slovak who was buried in the Wölzer Tauern region of Styria.

Other tragic incidents include a large avalanche in St. Anton am Arlberg that killed three people--a US citizen, a Polish national, and a 21-year-old Austrian. In Nauders, Tyrol, a skier from Thuringia, Germany, died after being caught in a 400-meter-wide avalanche with his 16-year-old son, who survived with serious injuries. Additional fatalities include a 71-year-old Dutch skier in Fiss, Tyrol, who was not equipped with an avalanche transceiver, complicating rescue efforts.

So far this season, Austria has recorded 20 avalanche-related deaths, already matching the national average for an entire winter. Meanwhile, in the Slovak High Tatras, rescuers discovered the body of a missing tourist presumed to have died in a separate avalanche following a search operation involving dogs and helicopters. The region has now reported four avalanche fatalities in two weeks. Polish mountain rescue teams currently rate the avalanche danger as moderate, with unstable layers of snow posing a continued risk on steep slopes.

In France, severe avalanche activity in the northern Alps has isolated two hamlets in the Oisans massif, Isère, after a powerful snow slide blocked the only access road. In Articol, another avalanche buried multiple vehicles under snow and fallen trees, though no injuries were reported.

Romania is also grappling with heavy snowfall. The capital Bucharest saw up to 36 centimeters of snow, with the Carpathian Mountains receiving as much as 1.8 meters. The weight of the snow caused a barn to collapse in Vadu Parului, resulting in the loss of several animals. Flights at the Bucharest airports experienced delays due to the weather.

Authorities across the affected regions continue to advise caution, emphasizing the importance of heeding avalanche warnings and remaining within marked ski areas to minimize risk.