AT alert triggered

Here we go! First avalanche rescue operations in Tyrol

The avalanche in Serfaus occurred directly below the railway line.(Bild: Alpinpolizei)

Despite all warnings: Avalanche alerts were issued again in Tyrol on Saturday! In Serfaus (Landeck district), a winter sports enthusiast was buried by snow in open terrain. He was rescued but died in hospital. An alert was also issued in Wattener Lizum (Innsbruck-Land district). Danger level 4 prevails across Tyrol. The Austrian Armed Forces are on standby. AT Alert was triggered in the afternoon!

The first avalanche warning on Saturday in Tyrol was issued at 10:23 a.m.: The Tyrol control center reported an avalanche in Serfaus. This occurred in the Hintergreitbach area in open terrain near the second section of the Komperdellbahn. 

The avalanche in Serfaus occurred directly below the railway line.(Bild: Alpinpolizei)

Accident in a steeper section
A 41-year-old local was skiing there with a German man (29). In the area of the cable car line, they were skiing on a steeper section at around 1600 meters and triggered a snow slab.

Companion dug out victim
"The 42-year-old was completely buried, but his companion was not," said an alpine police officer from Landeck. "The victim had an avalanche transceiver, and his companion was able to dig him out after about 15 minutes – with the help of other skiers who happened to be passing by." The local man was buried more than two meters deep because he was in a terrain trap.

The victim had an avalanche transceiver, and his companion was able to dig him out after about 15 minutes – with the help of other skiers who happened to be passing by.

Der ermittelnde Alpinpolizist 

Rescue by the emergency helicopter
The Serfaus and Fiss mountain rescue services were also alerted, as were the Christophorus 5 emergency helicopter and the Libelle Tirol police helicopter. "Despite difficult weather conditions, the emergency helicopter managed to rescue the victim," said the alpine police officer. The man had to be flown to the Innsbruck clinic under resuscitation, where he unfortunately died. 

Another alarm, adverse weather conditions
Shortly afterwards, the next alarm came in – this time in Wattener Lizum in the area of the so-called Hillary Cross in the Tux Alps. The situation remained unclear for a long time. The crew of the Alpin 5 emergency helicopter attempted to assess the situation from the air. "However, as in Serfaus, visibility is poor due to the weather conditions," said the control center. In the meantime, the operation could be called off. According to the Tyrol control center, it was a so-called negative avalanche with no people involved.

Snowboarder triggers avalanche and gets off lightly
In Kitzbühel, a 32-year-old snowboarder left the secured slope at around 1 p.m. and triggered a snow slab avalanche at around 1,850 meters. The German was swept away for about 85 meters and buried up to his chest. Miraculously, he was able to free himself and was uninjured. A witness, who stated that no other people were buried, left the scene of the accident without leaving her details. The police are asking for information.

AT-Alert was triggered in the afternoon!(Bild: Hubert Rauth)

AT-Alert triggered in Tyrol in the afternoon
At 1:30 p.m., the state of Tyrol sent an official hazard warning via AT-Alert to all mobile phones logged in to Tyrol. The reason for this is the current high avalanche danger (level 4) in numerous areas.

We urge the population and our guests to stay in safe areas and avoid off-piste skiing, even below the tree line.

Elmar Rizzoli, Krisenmanager Land Tirol

Bild: Christof Birbaumer

The population and guests staying in Tyrol were alerted to the high avalanche danger in open terrain via AT-Alert. "We urge the population and our guests to stay in secure areas and avoid off-piste skiing, even below the tree line," said Elmar Rizzoli, head of the Center for Crisis and Disaster Management. The marked slopes should not be left under any circumstances. 

Urgent warning to all winter sports enthusiasts
Today, Saturday, there could be another series of avalanches in Tyrol, just like on Friday. The situation throughout the state remains critical, with danger level 4 out of 5 prevailing in many areas. In the morning, the avalanche warning service once again issued an urgent warning about the current situation.

Winter sports enthusiasts could very easily trigger avalanches. There are numerous danger spots, even below the tree line. Snow slabs are still to be expected, which, as on Friday in St. Anton am Arlberg, can become very large in isolated cases. With the rain, the likelihood of spontaneous avalanches is increasing significantly.

Austrian Armed Forces on avalanche assistance mission
Five people died in avalanches in the mountains of western Austria on Friday – four in Tyrol alone and one in Vorarlberg. At the request of the Tyrol State Warning Center, the Austrian Armed Forces will be on avalanche assistance duty in Tyrol on Saturday.

The operation was planned for Saturday until 6 p.m., according to the Ministry of Defense. Reconnaissance flights to assess the situation and transport mountain rescue personnel are planned, who will then carry out avalanche blasting and winch rescues.