Avalanche Tragedy Claims Lives of Five Off-Piste Skiers in Austrian Alps

Sun Jan 18 2026 13:33:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A series of avalanches in the Austrian Alps have resulted in the deaths of five off-piste skiers, prompting concerns over safety in high-risk skiing areas amidst severe weather conditions.

In the recent avalanche events in the Pongau area, near Salzburg, five skiers have tragically lost their lives. Four skiers were killed in one avalanche incident, and a separate avalanche led to the death of another skier earlier that day. The local mountain rescue service reported that poor weather conditions have posed significant dangers in the Alps, resulting in several fatalities over the past week. Authorities are urging skiers to exercise extreme caution during these hazardous conditions.

Five off-piste skiers have died in two avalanches in the Austrian Alps following heavy snowfall in the region.

An avalanche hit a group of seven skiers in the Pongau area near Salzburg, killing four and seriously injuring another on Saturday. A similar avalanche swept away a skier in the same vicinity earlier in the day.

Recent adverse conditions have resulted in multiple fatalities in the Alps over the past week. Local mountain rescue officials reported being alerted around 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT) about the incidents. Four individuals were confirmed dead, while one sustained serious injuries.

Shortly before this, a female skier was buried by an avalanche in the open alpine terrain nearby. Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, expressed condolences, highlighting the severe avalanche conditions.

While further avalanches were recorded in the Pongau region without injuries, the ongoing risks are palpable. Previous incidents include the death of a 13-year-old Czech boy in Bad Gastein and a 58-year-old skier in Weerberg. In neighboring Switzerland, a German man was also killed, and four others were injured in a separate avalanche while cross-country skiing.

Tragic outcomes from avalanches extend beyond Austria, as six skiers were reported dead in various resorts in France last weekend, emphasizing a pressing need for awareness and caution in mountainous areas.