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Six killed in Austrian avalanche | Six killed in Austrian avalanche |
(3 days later) | |
An avalanche has killed six people near the ski resort of Soelden in the Austrian Alps, emergency rescue officials say. | An avalanche has killed six people near the ski resort of Soelden in the Austrian Alps, emergency rescue officials say. |
The avalanche was spotted on Saturday but rescuers were unable to reach the scene because of poor weather. | The avalanche was spotted on Saturday but rescuers were unable to reach the scene because of poor weather. |
They tried again by helicopter on Sunday morning, recovering six bodies, Austrian news agency APA reported. | They tried again by helicopter on Sunday morning, recovering six bodies, Austrian news agency APA reported. |
Five of the victims were from the Czech Republic - one from Slovakia. They were attempting to scale a nearby mountain. | Five of the victims were from the Czech Republic - one from Slovakia. They were attempting to scale a nearby mountain. |
A seventh member of the group decided not to join the party and so escaped the fate of his companions. He later identified their bodies. | A seventh member of the group decided not to join the party and so escaped the fate of his companions. He later identified their bodies. |
The climbers had been ascending the 3,500m (11,500ft) Schalfkogel peak, made up of snow-covered glaciers and situated in a remote region near the Italian border. | The climbers had been ascending the 3,500m (11,500ft) Schalfkogel peak, made up of snow-covered glaciers and situated in a remote region near the Italian border. |
The avalanche occurred about 500m below the summit at around 1615 local time time (1415 GMT). | The avalanche occurred about 500m below the summit at around 1615 local time time (1415 GMT). |
Correspondents say avalanches have been frequent in the Alps this year after heavy winter snowfalls. | Correspondents say avalanches have been frequent in the Alps this year after heavy winter snowfalls. |