Vienna: The number of skiers killed by avalanches in Austria on Friday has risen to five, authorities said, adding to a string of fatal incidents this winter. Two individuals were found dead following a slide in a western ski resort. Despite being recovered from the snow, they could not be saved, according to a police spokesperson. Of the three others initially rescued with injuries, one later died in the hospital in the evening.
According to Emirates News Agency, in Kl¶sterle, located in the province of Vorarlberg, a snowboarder lost his life while descending a steep slope with a companion. Earlier in the day, a German skier was killed by an avalanche in the Tyrolean ski area of Nauders. The German skier had been skiing off-piste with his 16-year-old son, who managed to survive but sustained serious injuries, police reported.
Authorities have indicated that up to 40 centimetres of fresh snow had fallen in parts of Tyrol in recent days, leading to dangerous avalanche conditions. More than 30 avalanches were recorded in Tyrol on Wednesday alone, with three fatalities reported in Tyrol and the neighbouring region of Vorarlberg.