Over 8 people were killed in the Austrian avalanche. The deaths occurred despite the repeated warnings asking for caution on the ski slopes.
It happened in the West of the country, as the avalanche alert level was four out of five after several days of heavy snowfall and wind. The incident has occurred as many people are on ski resorts to spend the February school break.
Police in Austria’s western Tyrol region said that on Sunday, the body of a 59-year-old man was found. He died while using his tractor to help clear snow.
In Saint Anton am Arlberg, the bodies of two skiers ages 29 and 33 and a guide were found. And a 62-year-old man who had gone cross-country skiing around the top of Hohe Aifner and hadn’t come back was found by rescuers but couldn’t be saved.
On Saturday, the bodies of a New Zealander who was 17 years old, a German man who was in his 50s, and a Chinese man who was 32 were found.
Over the past two days, heavy snowfall and wind have increased the risk of avalanches. Officials have warned people who enjoy winter sports to be careful.
Only in Tyrol were 30 avalanches reported on Saturday, and 11 of them left people missing. Rescue efforts were made harder by poor visibility and bad weather.
In Austria, a popular place for winter sports, about 20 people have died every year from avalanches in the last few years.