VIENNA – In a tragic turn of events, eight skiers lost their lives due to three avalanches that struck various parts of Austria, according to local authorities.

In the Bad Hofgastein region of western Austria, a female skier was caught in an avalanche at approximately 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. This incident was reported by the Pongau mountain rescue team.

Just an hour and a half later, another avalanche occurred in the nearby Gastein Valley, situated south of Salzburg. This disaster engulfed seven individuals, resulting in four fatalities and two serious injuries, while one person managed to emerge unscathed.

In a separate incident in central Austria’s Pusterwald, three Czech skiers perished in an avalanche shortly before 4:30 p.m., as confirmed by police. Fortunately, four others in the group were safely rescued.

Gerhard Kremser, the district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, expressed deep sorrow over these incidents, emphasizing the severity of the avalanche threat. He highlighted that there had been “clear and repeated warnings” concerning the avalanche risks.