Eight of the ten people who were initially reported missing after a snow avalanche on a ski slope in Austria have now been located.
Eight of the ten people who were initially reported missing after a snow avalanche on a ski slope in Austria have already been located, six of them unharmed and two with injuries that have required their transfer to hospitals.
The figure of ten missing arose after seeing a video of the avalanche. After locating eight of them, only two people remain to be identified, who in the images can be seen to have been hit by the avalanche.
This was reported by the Security Councilor for the Voralberg region, where the accident took place, according to the Austrian public broadcaster ORF.
In any case, so far no one has been reported missing by friends or family.
“It is very positive that so far no missing person reports have been received,” Gantner explained.
However, Gantner has assured that the search will continue until it is ruled out that no person has been left under the snow.
As part of efforts to determine if anyone is buried under the snow, tourist establishments in the area have been asked to report missing patrons.
The rescue team has asked the population to report relatives or acquaintances whose whereabouts are unknown, and also that witnesses to the avalanche provide all the information they can.
The avalanche began around 3:00 p.m. local time, at an altitude of 2,720 meters, and hit a ski slope in the town of Lech, in the Vorarlberg region of western Austria.
After the first alert was received, a search and rescue unit was deployed.
Several helicopters participated in the search, until nightfall forced them to land.
The air resources are still in the area, to be able to more quickly transport the wounded that are being located.
According to information from the Police, some 200 people are participating in the rescue efforts. And specialized dogs are also being used.
Hermann Fercher, head of the rescue team, told the Austrian public broadcaster ORF that the rescue work will continue through the night if necessary.
“We do everything possible to rescue winter athletes,” the authorities have reported.