Overview
- Two slides struck about 90 minutes apart on Jan. 17 in the Pongau area, with the first near Bad Hofgastein killing a female skier.
- The second avalanche in the Gastein/Finsterkopf area swept away seven people, leaving four dead and two injured, including one with serious injuries.
- Rescuers deployed roughly 90 personnel, four helicopters, crisis‑intervention teams and Red Cross search dogs to recover victims.
- Mountain rescue officials said clear warnings had been issued about high risk, and the fatal incidents involved off‑piste terrain.
- Separate from Salzburg, police in Styria reported three Czech ski tourers killed in the Murtal district the same day, bringing Austria’s daily toll to eight.