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Alps snow: Avalanche kills three skiers near Lech, Austria | Alps snow: Avalanche kills three skiers near Lech, Austria |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Three men have been killed in an avalanche near the Austrian ski resort of Lech am Arlberg, local police say. | Three men have been killed in an avalanche near the Austrian ski resort of Lech am Arlberg, local police say. |
The search for a fourth person, declared as missing, had to be halted due to the ongoing avalanche risk. | |
The group came from southern Germany and were reported missing by one of their wives on Saturday night. | The group came from southern Germany and were reported missing by one of their wives on Saturday night. |
In France, two employees at the Morillon ski resort died when the avalanche-control charges they were trying to set accidentally went off. | |
The accident took place at an altitude of 1,800m (6,000ft) as the two men were preparing the pistes ahead of their opening with an avalanche prevention programme, mountain rescuers said. | |
Weather forecasters had warned of a high risk of avalanches in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie regions following fresh overnight snowfall. | |
The three dead German men, aged 32, 36 and 57, were found at about 23:00 (22:00 GMT) on Saturday. | |
Police in the western province of Vorarlberg said they were located through mobile phone tracking, near the Langer Zug slope - one of the steepest in the world. | Police in the western province of Vorarlberg said they were located through mobile phone tracking, near the Langer Zug slope - one of the steepest in the world. |
It had been closed due to dangerous conditions. | It had been closed due to dangerous conditions. |
The men were wearing touring skis, which are used to climb uphill slopes and ski off-piste. | The men were wearing touring skis, which are used to climb uphill slopes and ski off-piste. |
The three victims bring the number of weather-related deaths in parts of Europe this month to at least 24, the Associated Press news agency reports. | The three victims bring the number of weather-related deaths in parts of Europe this month to at least 24, the Associated Press news agency reports. |
Austria has seen record snowfall, with more forecast for the weekend. Soldiers, firefighters, and volunteers have been battling to clear cut-off roads and rooftops during breaks in the weather. | Austria has seen record snowfall, with more forecast for the weekend. Soldiers, firefighters, and volunteers have been battling to clear cut-off roads and rooftops during breaks in the weather. |
On Friday, troops airlifted 66 German students and teachers to safety, after they became stranded at the Kasberg ski station in Grünau. | On Friday, troops airlifted 66 German students and teachers to safety, after they became stranded at the Kasberg ski station in Grünau. |
The same day, the Red Cross helped drivers stuck on a motorway in the south German state of Bavaria, and a nine-year-old boy was killed near Munich when a tree collapsed under the weight of snow. | The same day, the Red Cross helped drivers stuck on a motorway in the south German state of Bavaria, and a nine-year-old boy was killed near Munich when a tree collapsed under the weight of snow. |
In Switzerland, an avalanche hit the restaurant of the Hotel Säntis in Schwägalp, injuring three people. | In Switzerland, an avalanche hit the restaurant of the Hotel Säntis in Schwägalp, injuring three people. |
Local reports said the avalanche had been 300m (984ft) wide when it came down the nearby mountain pass. | Local reports said the avalanche had been 300m (984ft) wide when it came down the nearby mountain pass. |
A Nasa graphic tweeted by BBC Weather showed how the geography of Europe has shaped the snow's progress. | A Nasa graphic tweeted by BBC Weather showed how the geography of Europe has shaped the snow's progress. |
"Little to no snow has fallen on the Italian side of the Alps," meteorologist Matt Taylor noted. "The sheer scale of the Alps has blocked the snow-bearing clouds making it over." | "Little to no snow has fallen on the Italian side of the Alps," meteorologist Matt Taylor noted. "The sheer scale of the Alps has blocked the snow-bearing clouds making it over." |
Are you in Austria? If it is safe for you to do so please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences of the bad weather. | Are you in Austria? If it is safe for you to do so please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences of the bad weather. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |