VIENNA, Feb 21 (AFP): A major snowstorm hit Austria on Friday, leaving five people dead and causing power outages and transport chaos, officials said.
One man, aged 53, was crushed to death when a snow plough fell down steps in a "residential complex" in the northern city of Linz, police said. Four skiers were killed in avalanches in the Tyrol region.
Three of them died in a giant avalanche near the St Anton ski resort, officials said. A German died on a slope at Nauders that was buried by snow. His 16-year-old son was seriously injured, officials added.
Tyrol authorities appealed for skiers to stay away from off-piste slopes as the latest deaths took to 21 the number of dead in avalanches in Austria this winter season. They said the risk would remain high for several days.
Up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) of snow fell on the Alpine nation since Thursday, prompting alerts for southeast Austria.
Snowstorm leaves 5 dead in Austria
FE Team | Published: February 22, 2026 00:16:21
Snowstorm leaves 5 dead in Austria
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