Six hikers killed in avalanche in Austria

by Yuliya Talmazan | May 3, 2009 at 10:24 am

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Six hikers were killed in Austrian Alps when an avalanche came down and trapped them under eight feet of snow. The bodies of those killed have now been recovered. It is reported all six victims were from the Czech Republic. One man is believed to have survived the ordeal.

Six people were killed when an avalanche trapped them under eight feet (2.5 meters) of snow as they hiked in the Alps of Western Austria, according to authorities.

A 45-year-old man was the sole survivor when the group was hit by the avalanche at an altitude of about 3,000 meters (9,850 feet), rescuers said Sunday.

Authorities said the bodies of the victims had been recovered.

The group was buried by the tumbling snow Saturday afternoon while hiking not far from the popular Soelden ski resort in Austria’s alpine province of Tyrol. A rescue effort was mounted late Saturday, but had to be suspended overnight because of bad weather.

The Austria Press Agency quoted police officials as saying five victims were from the Czech Republic and the sixth was Slovak.

The avalanche occurred at 3,000 metres (9,850 feet), Saturday in the Schalfkogel mountains

Klaus Middeldorf, one of the medics aboard a rescue helicopter that searched for the victims, said a mountain guide at the scene saw people going up the mountain and later saw the avalanche come down.