Heavy snowfall and gales have struck Austria, Switzerland, and northern Italy, leading to a series of tragic accidents. In Austria's Tyrol, four skiers were killed by avalanches, and another person died in an accident involving a snowplow in Linz. Intense snowstorms forced the temporary closure of Vienna Airport, resulting in the cancellation of over 150 flights and stranding thousands of passengers across the region.
Tragic Avalanche Toll
As a result of avalanches in Tyrol, four skiers died, including citizens of Germany. The situation in the mountains is extremely dangerous.
Vienna Airport Paralysis
Over 150 flight connections were canceled, affecting 13 thousand passengers. The airport resumed operations only after many hours of snow clearing.
Power Grid Failures
In Slovenia and parts of Austria, heavy snow and wind cut off power to 34-42 thousand consumers, damaging transmission infrastructure.
Accident in Linz
A 53-year-old man was killed under the wheels of a snowplow that slid down stairs on the grounds of a residential complex.
A powerful winter assault has paralyzed a significant part of Austria and neighboring Alpine regions, bringing tragic consequences. In Tyrol alone, there were over 30 avalanche interventions within a single day. The most tragic events occurred in St. Anton am Arlberg, where three people (citizens of the USA, Poland, and Austria) were killed under masses of snow. The fourth victim in Tyrol is a 42-year-old German citizen who died in the Nauders area, while the fifth tragic accident involving a snowboarder was recorded in neighboring Vorarlberg. Rescue services warn that the avalanche danger remains at level four on the five-level scale. The weather situation has led to chaos in international transport. Vienna-Schwechat Airport halted operations on Friday morning after 20 cm of snow accumulated on the runways. Approximately 150 flights were canceled, affecting nearly 13 thousand passengers. Problems have also affected roadways; in Styria, routes became practically impassable for passenger cars, and numerous trucks were stuck on highways around Vienna. In Linz, an unusual accident occurred in which a 53-year-old man was fatally struck by a snowplow on the grounds of a residential complex. The winter paralysis has also affected neighboring countries. In Slovenia, extreme weather conditions left over 34,000 households without power, and fallen trees blocked railway lines. Meanwhile, in Germany's Black Forest, despite periodic snow shortages in December, managers of resorts on Feldberg are summarizing January and February as exceptionally successful, hoping for the season to continue until Easter. However, the situation in the higher parts of the Alps remains critical, and experts are appealing to tourists to strictly adhere to the warnings of mountain rescue services. The Alps are one of the regions in the world most prone to avalanche law. Statistically, about 20-30 people die each year in Austria due to snow mass movements, and periods of rapid warming following heavy snowfall are the most dangerous. Local authorities in Tyrol and Vorarlberg are considering introducing temporary bans on access to certain trails to minimize the risk of further tragedies. Power utility services are working to restore electricity supplies, but strong winds are hampering repairs to downed power lines in mountainous areas.