Timeline of Three Fatal Avalanches on Jan 18 The first slide struck Bad Hofgastein in the Salzburg Pongau region at about 12:30 p.m., burying a female skier at roughly 2,200 m altitude [1][3][4]. About 90 minutes later, a second avalanche hit the Finsterkopf area of the Gastein Valley, sweeping seven ski tourers and killing four [1][2][3][4]. A third avalanche occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. in Pusterwald, Styria, where three Czech skiers were buried and later pronounced dead [1][2][3].

Fatalities and Injuries Across Bad Hofgastein, Finsterkopf, Pusterwald Eight people died in total: the lone female skier in Bad Hofgastein, four ski tourers in the Finsterkopf slide, and three Czech skiers in Pusterwald [1][2][3][4]. The Finsterkopf incident also left two participants seriously injured while one escaped unharmed [1][2][3][4]. In Pusterwald, four companions were rescued and taken for medical care, though none of them were fatally injured [1][2][3].

Rescue Operations and Official Warnings Mobilized Nationwide Austrian mountain rescue services deployed helicopters, Red Cross dog teams, and crisis‑intervention units to all three sites, with Gerhard Kremser, head of the Pongau rescue district, publicly expressing condolences and stressing the danger [2][4]. Authorities had issued repeated high‑avalanche‑risk warnings after heavy Alpine snowfall earlier in the week, urging skiers to avoid exposed terrain [1][3][4]. Ongoing investigations are examining the circumstances of each slide and the compliance of the victims with the warnings [1][3].

Broader Alpine Avalanche Surge Raises Ongoing Danger The fatalities follow a deadly week across the Alps that also claimed six skiers in France and additional lives in Switzerland and Austria [2]. Forecasters warned that further snowfall could elevate avalanche risk in the coming days, prompting continued alerts for mountain areas [1][3]. Officials emphasized that the situation remains hazardous and that rescue resources will stay on high alert [2][4].