2016 Geier avalanche
The 2016 Geier avalanche was an avalanche which occurred in Wattenberg, Austria, on 6 February 2016. Five people were killed (all Czechs), when the disaster struck in the 2,800-metre (9,200 ft) Geier mountain range.[1] The avalanche occurred shortly after midday near the mountain hut Lizumer Hütte. This was one of 19 avalanches reported in Tyrol on 6 February. The avalanche risk level in Tyrol was three out of a possible five, deemed "considerable".
Avalanche[edit]
The avalanche spread over a 2 km wide area, in the Wattental Valley in the Western Apline region of Tirol, burying 17 skiers from the Czech Republic who were taking part in a "free ride camp" and had been previously warned about the danger of an avalanche by locals.[2] Martin Waldhart of Mountain Rescue stated at a press conference that the group had been skiing in an area that had been classified as an "absolute risk zone".[3] Resucue workers used dogs and helicopters to search for the groups and at the time of locating them, some of the skiers had already freed themselves.
Victims[edit]
There were two ski groups from the Czech Republic caught up in the snowslide, including two guides.[2] The avalanche killed 5 skiers of the parties, and injured two, with the remaining members of the party uninjured.[3] There were no other fatalities, but several people were reported injured.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "Czech freerider denies responsibility for avalanche accident". České noviny. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Five skiers killed in Austrian Alps avalanche". The Guardian. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Avalanche kills five Czech skiers in Austrian Alps". EBL News. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Austrian avalanche: Czech skiers killed in Alps". BBC News. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.