Several avalanches – Two avalanche deaths in the Swiss mountains – News

• Two people died on Saturday in avalanches in Engelberg OW and on the Stoos SZ.
• This means that ten people have died in avalanches in Switzerland this winter.

 The  avalanche in Engelberg fell shortly before 11 a.m. in the Laub area, above the Gerschnialp, as reported by the Obwalden canton police. According to observations, at least two people got caught in the avalanche and were buried.

When the avalanche went off, there were also other groups of people outside the secured slopes in this area.

Legend:

Traces of the avalanche in Engelberg.

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Three people could have been quickly located and rescued, as the message said.  The  further search in the couloir turned out to be difficult and dangerous because of the snow situation.  The  final search could only be carried out after a security detonation.

One out of three recorded people could be rescued from the snow masses unharmed. Two other people were seriously injured or life-threateningly injured and flown to the hospital by Rega.  The  critically injured person died in the course of early Saturday afternoon.

Freerider spilled on Stoos

A 49-year-old freerider from the canton of Zug died on Saturday morning on the Stoos in a steep slope in the Rot Turm area away from the marked ski slopes.  The  100 to 150 meter wide avalanche buried the man shortly before 10 a.m., although he activated the avalanche airbag.

People in the vicinity who had observed the fall of the avalanche were able to rescue the victim from the avalanche cone within a short time. After the first aid on site, Rega flew the man with undetermined injuries to the hospital.  The  accident victim died there a short time later.

By yesterday, Friday, a total of 62 avalanche accidents had been reported to the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF this winter. So far, eight people had died. With the two victims on Saturday, that number rose to ten.

Large areas of avalanche danger

In the central and eastern Alps, there was a high risk of avalanches on Saturday at all exposures above around 1600 meters. This is the second highest warning level. Occasionally, very large spontaneous avalanches were also expected, which can also endanger exposed traffic routes.  The  avalanche institute warned on Saturday that there is a very dangerous avalanche situation, especially away from secured slopes.