Two ski tourers were fatally injured in an avalanche on Monday morning in the municipality of Sölden, a winter sports resort in the Tyrolean district of Imst. The exact circumstances of the accident were still unclear, according to the police. However, it is believed that they fell into a glacier crevasse, with a search having been conducted in the area of a crevasse, according to the Tirol emergency control center. In addition to the two fatalities, another person was buried in the avalanche. This individual was rescued and flown to the hospital.

The victims were part of a six-person Austrian group, one of whom was a mountain guide. They were caught by a “relatively large avalanche” just before 10:30 AM east of the Kleinleitenferner in the valley area of the Schalfkogel (3,537 meters). The avalanche triggered a large-scale search operation, with two emergency helicopters and a police helicopter deployed. Additionally, two mountain rescue teams were on-site.