Austrian alpine avalanches kill six people

Five hikers and policeman die in separate accidents

An artificially-induced avalanche rushes down a mountain in Austria as part of avalanche control measures (EPA-EFE)

Six people have been killed in two separate avalanches in the Austrian Alps, Austrian authorities said.

In the Dachstein area, a group of mountains located on the border of Upper Austria and Styria, a group of five snowshoers were swept away by an avalanche around 9.30am on Sunday, local media reported.

The hikers were believed to be from the Czech Republic.

Emergency services were called immediately by witnesses but were not able to save the victims.

In the Grossglockner area of southwestern Austria, a policeman died during an alpine training session after a separate avalanche hit.

In a statement, Austria’s Ministry of the Interior said the 33-year-old officer, from Carinthia, was dragged down by the avalanche and died of his injuries at the scene.

Austria’s interior minister, Karl Nehammer, said: “The death of a young employee is a severe blow, especially in such tragic circumstances – for both the family and for the closest colleagues.

“I express my deepest sympathy for the family and assure them of my full support.

“Thousands of police officers carry out dangerous tasks for our democratic coexistence every day. Let us take this tragic accident as an opportunity to visualise the dangers associated with the police service,” he added.

The Austrian Alps are prone to avalanches, especially with climate change leading to heat waves, melting glaciers and permafrost degradation.

In December last year, a skier survived after being trapped in snow by an avalanche for five hours, in the northwestern area of Upper Styria.