An avalanche went off in the Lech/Zürs ski area in the Trittkopf area on Sunday afternoon.
All updates LIVE on VOL.AT:
Update at 9:10 p.m.:
The avalanche in Lech/Zürs was apparently less severe than initially feared. For hours, a search had been carried out for ten people who might have been buried. Shortly after 8.30 p.m., according to Vorarlberg’s security councilor Christian Gantner (ÖVP), only two people were still missing. All others were recovered or identified at this point. According to current knowledge, at least two people were injured in the avalanche.
The suspicion that ten people could have been buried by the avalanche was based on a video from a ski guest. This shows “how the skiers come into contact with the avalanche”, as Hermann Fercher from Lech/Zürs-Tourismus put it. The video did not show what happened next. One of the people was injured and flown to the clinic in Innsbruck. Another person suffered an injury from the avalanche, but was able to free himself and go to the hospital in Bludenz, as Gantner told APA. Six other people on the video were not swept away and were unharmed. The fate of two winter sports enthusiasts was still open. However, Gantner was optimistic that these two people are doing well. According to the state council, there were no notices of departure.
Update at 6.30 p.m. from the police:
The avalanche went below the Trittkopf in the area of piste no. 134 (Balmen). Several people were buried, the exact number is still unknown. The search operation on the avalanche cone, which has now been illuminated, will continue to be carried out by terrestrial forces, the helicopters are no longer in use. The on-site command center was set up in the Hotel Alpenrose in Zürs. There the mayor, the head of the tourist office and the police spokesman are available to the media for DIRECT INFORMATION ON THE SPOT. Request for witnesses: Anyone who can provide useful information (course of events, missing persons, etc.) about the avalanche should contact the Lech Police Inspectorate (TelNr: 059133 8105 100). Note for any relatives: Please also report to the Lech police station, a collection point has been set up.
Alert at 3 p.m
On Sunday around 3 p.m., the rescue and fire brigade control center (RFL) Feldkirch and the police state control center in Bregenz received a report about an avalanche in the Lech-Zürs ski area, Trittkopf area.
