Austrian Alps Avalanche Kills Six Hikers

Six people, five Czechs and one Slovak, were killed by an avalanche during a hiking trip in the Alps on Saturday.
Austrian Alps Avalanche Kills Six Hikers
5/6/2009
Updated:
5/6/2009
INNSBRUCK, Austria—Six people, five Czechs and one Slovak, were killed by an avalanche during a hiking trip in the Alps on Saturday.

The group was trapped under eight feet of snow near the Soelden ski resort in the alpine province of Tyrol. The hikers were planning to ascend Schalfkogel, a 3,540 meter (11,614 foot) peak. The avalanche hit the group about 500 meters below the peak at 4:15 pm.

Rescue workers were immediately alerted, but their helicopters were unable to approach the scene due to snowy weather. They resumed rescue efforts on Sunday morning, and six bodies were recovered.

Alpine regions of Austria have received an unusually large amount of snow this year, and the avalanches have been quite frequent. Thirty people have been killed in the region this year.