58-year-old buried

Avalanche alert in Arlberg: Large-scale search operation underway

A search was conducted for a buried victim below the Wetterkreuz summit on the Weerberg. The woman was found but died in the hospital.(Bild: ZOOM Tirol)

Warnings had been issued about the high risk of avalanches – and rightly so, as it now turns out: there were several rescue operations in Tyrol on Sunday – two in St. Anton am Arlberg within a very short time. A search for possible victims lasted for hours on Gampen – then the all-clear was given. In the afternoon, a ski tourer (58) was caught in an avalanche. The woman later died in hospital. 

At around 11:15 a.m., an avalanche warning was issued in St. Anton. "In the Gampen area, in the ski resort away from the secured slopes," as the Tyrol control center told "Krone" when asked. Winter sports enthusiasts had been spotted in the affected area. There was talk of four to five people. It was initially unclear whether anyone had actually been buried.

18-year-old flown to hospital
In any case, a large search operation was launched, involving helicopters, mountain rescue, dog handlers, and ski patrol. An 18-year-old skier was injured by the avalanche and was flown to hospital by emergency helicopter. "The young man was completely buried. Only one arm was still sticking out of the snow," said the police. His companions were able to rescue the winter sports enthusiast.

The search was unsuccessful. There were no buried victims.

Kurt Hüttl, Bergrettung St. Anton

Avalanche in the open ski area
At around 1:30 p.m., the all-clear was finally given. As Kurt Hüttl, head of the St. Anton mountain rescue service, explained to "Krone" when asked, the operation had been completed. "The search was unsuccessful. There were no other buried victims." Contrary to other reports, the avalanche did not partially descend onto a ski slope. "It all took place in open terrain away from the slopes."

Another avalanche in St. Anton
Shortly after 12 noon, there was another avalanche alarm in St. Anton. This time on the Galzig. A 22-year-old Swedish man working in Tyrol was swept away by masses of snow and injured in front of three friends. The victim received prompt medical attention. The 22-year-old was also flown to the hospital.

At around 12:30 p.m., the Tyrol control center issued another avalanche warning. An avalanche occurred on the Rofan in the Grubersee area. Mountain rescue and helicopters were alerted. A 23-year-old winter sports enthusiast was caught in the snow, but was able to activate his avalanche backpack in time and remained uninjured.

In the afternoon, there was another avalanche: at around 2:45 p.m., a ski tourer was caught and buried by an avalanche on the north side of the Weerberg (Schwaz district) below the Wetterkreuz while skiing downhill. Her companion (32) immediately raised the alarm. The 58-year-old local woman was finally found and dug out from a depth of around 1.70 meters – she did not have an avalanche transceiver with her. The woman was flown to the hospital in critical condition, where she unfortunately died.

Further operations in the lowlands
There were also operations on Sunday morning in the Zillertal and in the Kitzbühel district. An avalanche had been reported in Tux, but no one was buried. An avalanche also occurred in Jochberg at around 10:45 a.m. As it later transpired, the person who reported it, a 17-year-old German living in Austria, had triggered the snow slab himself. Although he was caught up in the snow, his avalanche backpack ensured that he came to a halt on the surface. "The emergency services then searched for other possible victims, but were able to end the operation at around 1:30 p.m.," according to the police.

 

Partly level 4: High danger in the Oberland!
Due to heavy snowfall in recent days coupled with strong winds, the Tyrol Avalanche Warning Service issued the second-highest danger level (level 4 – high avalanche danger) on Sunday for the Silvretta, Verwall, Lechtal Alps, and Allgäu Alps regions.

"Exercise caution away from the slopes"
The state had already appealed to winter sports enthusiasts in advance to exercise caution in open terrain. "Winter sports enthusiasts should be aware that spontaneous avalanche activity is to be expected and that avalanches can be triggered quite easily in some cases," emphasized Norbert Lanzanasto from the Avalanche Warning Service on Saturday.

In the other western regions of North Tyrol, as well as the Zillertal Alps and the Hohe Tauern, avalanche danger level 3 (considerable danger) applies.