Five reported killed in avalanches in Austria

Five people died in two avalanches in Austria's Alps today, Austrian broadcaster ORF reported.

Several people have died across the Alps since last week following heavy snowfall.

An off-piste avalanche hit a group of seven ski tourers in the Pongau area near Salzburg, killing four and seriously injuring another person, ORF reported.

"This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is," said Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, noting the "clear and repeated warnings" about the avalanche risk.

Four rescue helicopters, mountain rescue and Red Cross dog teams, and a crisis intervention team were rushed to the scene.

Earlier today, another off-piste avalanche swept away a ski tourer in the same area.

The woman's husband called in the accident.

Rescuers could not immediately be reached today.

On Tuesday, an avalanche killed a 13-year-old skiing off-piste in the Austrian Alpine resort of Bad Gastein.

Last Sunday, a 58-year-old ski tourer died in an avalanche in the Tyrolean resort of Weerberg in western Austria.

In neighbouring Switzerland, a German man was killed in an avalanche, and four other people were hurt, as they were cross-country skiing yesterday.

Last weekend in France, six skiers died after being caught in avalanches in various Alpine resorts.