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Four people buried: Ski group caught in Austrian avalanche

Four people buried
Ski group caught in Austrian avalanche

L - Helicopter at the site of an avalanche accident. R - Temperature map of the Tyrol, Austria area.

Rescue teams arrived at the scene by helicopter following an avalanche in Tyrol, Austria, where temperatures were well above zero.

- © APA

A total of four people were buried in an avalanche in Tyrol, Austria on Thursday while ascending the Ötztal Alps towards an Alpine mountain hut.

Three winter sports enthusiasts lost their lives while one other was injured in the incident, all four members were part of a group of ski tourists visiting from the Netherlands.

The avalanche struck just before 11:00 am local time, as the group were ascending the Ötztal Alps towards the Martin-Busch-Hütte, some 2,501 metres above sea level.

Rescue teams arrived via helicopter to the site, with initial reports suggesting around 18 people were trapped.

Avalanche prone

The current Martin-Busch-Hütte is the second hut in this location, its predecessor was destroyed by an avalanche in 1961.

Fortunately, many of the group were not in the area. In total, the ski group consisted of 17 skiers with four mountain guides.

At the time of the avalanche, the official risk was deemed as "moderate". This is the second-lowest level in a five tier warning system.

Video: Deadly avalanche in Switzerlandlast week

Weather & Radar editorial team

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