Eight Killed in Multiple Avalanches Across Austrian Alps Amid Heavy Snowfall

Three avalanches in the Austrian Alps on January 17, 2026, killed eight people, including three Czech ski tourers in Styria and four off-piste skiers near Salzburg, with another skier also caught in an avalanche in the same area. Rescue officials emphasized the severity of the avalanche risk despite repeated warnings. Similar fatal avalanches have occurred recently in Austria, Switzerland, and France following heavy snowfall across the Alps.