Ten people were apparently swept away by an avalanche in a popular ski area in Austria’s Trittkopf mountain on Christmas Day.
According to the newspaper Kronen Zeitung Eight people were taken out on Sunday evening, all of whom are foreign tourists. One person was previously rescued with injuries.
Two people are still being sought.
The police in Bludenz inform NTB that they have no information about the nationality of those who are missing.
Eight accounted for
A video suggested that ten people were taken by the avalanche, but eight of them have now been accounted for safely, a spokesperson for the police told DPA.
There are so far no indications that Norwegian citizens have been caught in the avalanche.
– The embassy in Vienna is in contact with the Austrian authorities to get more information about the circumstances. We have so far no indications that Norwegian citizens have been affected, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tells NTB.
A major rescue operation was launched after the landslide in the mountain located in the municipalities of Lech and Zürs in western Austria. It is a very popular ski area.
According to Kleine Zeitung, several helicopters have been deployed in the search. Local police state that they cannot yet say more about what has happened.
HELICOPTER: A helicopter has been used in the search in the landslide area. Photo: Peter Rinderer / AFP / NTB
Sent out danger warning
Krone.at writes that a danger warning for avalanches was sent out in the area due to strong winds and fresh snow.
Around a hundred people participate in the search. It has already become dark in the area, which makes the rescue work more difficult.
– We are doing everything we can to save the skiers, states Lech municipality.
According to Kleine Zeitung, the landslide occurred at 3pm on Sunday afternoon in the area around the mountain Trippkoff. The summit is 2,720 meters above sea level.
The avalanche has occurred in the same area where the Dutch prince Friso was taken by an avalanche in 2012. He later died of his injuries, aged 44.
