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09. 02. 10. - 12:45

Avalanche danger warnings as more snow predicted

The danger of avalanches remains extremely high in many Austrian provinces with more heavy new snow on the way from tomorrow (Weds), experts said today.

In Vorarlberg, the danger is at level three, and the likelihood of avalanches is high at elevations higher than 1,800 metres.

The avalanche service warned that the weight of a single skier could trigger an avalanche and said inexperienced skiers should stay on prepared pistes.

It added there had been at least one avalanche a day in Vorarlberg since 2 February, excluding last Friday.

The danger remained at the level of three today in Salzburg, where 20 centimetres of new snow has fallen, and in Upper Austria.

A 38-year-old Slovene snowboarder from Ljubljana was caught in an avalanche yesterday in Salzburg’s Obertauern mountains but saved himself from being buried by managing to open his avalanche air bag.

A 55-year-old German man had to be rescued by helicopter yesterday in Salzburg after he called for help when he got stranded since the danger of avalanches in the area was so high no other means of rescue was possible.

In Tyrol, the search for a French skier caught in an avalanche yesterday in the mountains north of Innsbruck continued this morning, with 80 people at work beginning at 6am.

The search for him had to be abandoned yesterday afternoon because of the danger of avalanches, and rescuers said the same thing would happen today if he was not found by midday.

The Tyrol avalanche service warned that the danger of spontaneous avalanches would steadily rise today, especially on steep slopes above 1,800 metres. It warned that new snow had failed to bind with old snow, making avalanches more likely.

The number of avalanche deaths in Austria so far this season has risen to fifteen following more avalanches over the weekend in the Austrian Alps.

A German man died of his injuries last night (Sun/Mon) at Innsbruck University Clinic after having been caught in an avalanche near Tyrol’s Pitztal Glacier earlier in the day.

A 39-year-old Upper Austrian man’s body was found Sunday after he had gone missing while skiing near Große Bärneck mountain in Styria’s Liezen district.

In another incident, a 28-year-old man died Sunday while skiing near Nassfeld in Carinthia’s Hermagor district when he was caught in an avalanche and smashed against a tree.

The weekend deaths came after five people died when they were caught in avalanches last Thursday.

There were 32 avalanche deaths during the 2008/2009 winter season in Austria.

Austrian Times

Related articles: winter sport accidents

1. Avalanches claim 37 in Austria

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