The 2009 Schalfkogel avalanche was an

avalanche An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and earth ...

which occurred in Sölden,

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

, on 2 May 2009. Six people were killed, five Czechs and one Slovak, when the disaster struck in the Schalfkogel mountain range. The corpses were discovered to have been frozen upon recovery. It was the deadliest avalanche to have occurred in Austria since March 2000. Although avalanches are a regular occurrence in the region, they mainly kill individuals as opposed to entire groups.

Incident

The victims were hiking when they were buried under two and half metres of snow which fell on them. The avalanche occurred on 2 May at the Sölden ski resort. The hikers were approximately below the summit. Authorities said the six bodies were retrieved as they ascended Schalfkogel between the ski resorts of Sölden and Obergurgl near the Italian border. A rescue effort had gotten underway on 2 May but was suspended that night. The search had earlier been called off. Rescuers were hampered by severe weather conditions. Witnesses had seen the avalanche and reported it by 16:15 but rescuers were delayed by the snowstorm. As soon as the rescue helicopter was able to land all of the victims had been located within the hour. It is understood four of them quickly died and froze after being buried under the snow, whilst the other two had some oxygen and survived in an unfrozen state until this became impossible. Rescuers said these two might have been rescued.

Survivor

One forty-five-year-old man survived. He was a friend of the victims. He had stayed behind in a mountain hut whilst the others continued on their journey. The bodies were identified by this survivor.

Reaction

The mayor of Sölden, Ernst Schöpf, said: "It asclear that conditions were not right for a high-altitude tour on Saturday."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2009 Schalfkogel Avalanche Schalfkogel avalanche Schalfkogel avalanche 2000s avalanches Natural disasters in Austria May 2009 events in Europe Avalanches in Austria 2009 disasters in Austria