Lizumerhütte, Austria – Five skiers from the Czech Republic who ignored avalanche warnings died in a slide in Austria’s western Wattental Valley on Saturday.
The five were among 17 Czech nationals taking part in a freeride camp who were buried in the massive avalanche that stretched 2 km wide on the Junsjoch mountain. Two suffered injuries, while the other 10 were rescued unharmed.
The avalanche danger on Saturday was rated in the area as “considerable,” or a 3 on Europe’s five-point scale.
The avalanche that killed the five Czech skiers was just one of 19 slides reported in the Tyrol region on Saturday. Several other injuries were reported on Saturday, but no other deaths.