Five skiers have lost their lives in a devastating pair of avalanches in western Austria on Saturday, 17 January 2026, with mountain rescue officials issuing a stark reminder about the perilous conditions in the Alps.
Tragedy in the Gastein Valley
Authorities confirmed that four of the fatalities occurred in the Gastein Valley, located south of Salzburg. A large snow slide swept away a group of seven skiers. While two individuals were injured—one of them seriously—and a third managed to escape unharmed, four others could not be saved.
Gerhard Kremser, the district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, stated that the incident painfully highlighted the severity of the current avalanche situation. He emphasised that there had been "clear and repeated warnings" about the elevated risk prior to the tragedy.
Major Rescue Operation Launched
In response to the catastrophe in the Gastein Valley, emergency services mounted a large-scale operation. Four rescue helicopters were deployed alongside mountain rescue teams and Red Cross dog units. A crisis intervention team was also rushed to the scene to provide support.
Earlier Avalanche Claims Another Life
Approximately ninety minutes before the Gastein Valley avalanche, a separate incident claimed the life of a female skier in the nearby Bad Hofgastein area. According to the APA news agency, she was buried under the snow at an altitude of around 2,200 metres (7,200 feet).
The consecutive disasters on Saturday have cast a sombre shadow over the Salzburg Pongau region, underscoring the deadly and unpredictable power of avalanches even for experienced individuals enjoying the slopes.
