Series of avalanches hit Austrian, Swiss ski slopes, sparking fears of people buried in snow
- Six people survived unhurt, and while there were no reports of missing people, police said rescuers would comb the entire avalanche area
Rescuers on Thursday hunted for possible victims of three avalanches that hit the Austrian ski resort of Ankogel, and one that hit the Swiss resort of Andermatt, injuring at least two people.
After a large avalanche spilled onto the piste at Andermatt, two people were pulled from the snow and taken to Uri hospital with minor injuries, Swiss police said.
Four more were retrieved unhurt, but it was unclear how many others could be buried under the snow, a police spokesman said, adding that a large rescue squad was on the site.
Police spokesman Reto Pfister said there were no reports of missing people, but the search would continue until the entire avalanche area had been examined.
Danger for the area had been at level three on a scale of five, according to the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), which said fresh and wind-drifted snow was the main threat.