All 10 skiers feared missing in Austrian avalanche found alive, 1 seriously injured

All ten people who were feared missing after an avalanche swept across a ski trail in western Austria on Christmas Day have been accounted for, local authorities said.

Four people were hurt in the incident, including a man who was partially buried. He was flown to a hospital in Innsbruck with serious injuries.

The three other individuals suffered minor injuries.

The avalanche occurred near the 8,900-foot Trittkopf mountain, between the villages of Zürs and Lech am Arlberg, around 3 p.m., local time, on Sunday.

First responders initially feared up to 10 people could be missing, based on a video taken by a witness.

However, six of those who appeared in the video were able to ski down the mountain, police in the Vorarlberg region said in a statement.

A team of about 200 people was involved in the search-and-rescue operation, The Guardian reported citing the Austrian Press Agency.

“According to the current state of information, it can be assumed that no further persons are missing,” authorities said in a statement Monday.

Nevertheless, a “security search” will still be carried out Monday for “final clarification.”

The Zürs and Lech am Arlberg region is a renowned winter sports destination, popular among the rich and famous. The area’s head of tourism, Hermann Fercher, said the avalanche occurred even though explosives had been deployed as a preventive measure.

With Wire News Services