Three Die in Series of Avalanches in Austrian Alps

Three people were killed in a series of avalanches in Austria on Friday, as severe weather warnings affected the region. One victim, a 42-year-old German man, was skiing with his 16-year-old son in the Nauders-Bergkastel ski area near Austria’s borders with Switzerland and Italy when they left the marked trails.

Traversing a north-facing slope, they were carried about 200 to 300 meters when an avalanche roughly 400 meters wide broke loose. The teenager was left injured on the surface and called for help; rescuers could not resuscitate the father, and the son was flown to hospital with no condition provided.

Two other people died after an avalanche near St. Anton am Arlberg trapped five people; three were rescued and one was being treated at a hospital in nearby Innsbruck. Chief Inspector Stefan Eder, a police spokesman, said, “Today we had many, many, many avalanches.” Authorities reported several other rescue operations.

Austria, Austrian Alps

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