In Upper Bavaria: skiers trigger a snow slab avalanche - and are buried under it

Created: 2022-01-24 05:22

By: Tanja Kipke

A skier triggered an avalanche in the Chiemgau Alps.

(Icon image) © Imago

The avalanche danger in Bavaria has increased due to the fresh snow that has fallen.

On Sunday there were several avalanches, which injured a skier.

Update from January 23, 7:26 p.m .:

The police have announced new information about the avalanche accident in the Chiemgau Alps.

A skier triggered a slab avalanche on Sunday and was partially buried (see first report).

According to the police, the 41-year-old skier was swept away 100 meters in altitude and buried up to his shoulders.

A ski tourer who happened to be passing by heard the calls for help and informed the mountain rescue service, reports the dpa.

The man was flown to a hospital by rescue helicopter.

In another avalanche - also on Abereck - four ski tourers were involved.

They were all unharmed.

A police spokesman said there were a total of three avalanches in the Aschau im Chiemgau region on Sunday. 

First report from January 23, 5:45 p.m .:

Aschau im Chiemgau – The weather in Bavaria calmed down a bit on Sunday (January 23).

Several centimeters of snow had fallen in many places the day before, sometimes with strong gusts of wind.

The large amount of fresh snow increases the risk of avalanches in the Alps.

On Sunday there were several avalanches in the Abereck area in Chiemgau (Rosenheim district).

A slab avalanche was triggered by a skier driving into the “heavily loaded, 45 degree steep eastern slope from the summit”, reports the avalanche warning service in Bavaria.

The man was "partially buried," it said.

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Avalanches in the Bavarian Alps: skiers are slightly injured

The crack was over a meter thick in the area of ​​a cornice and the avalanche reached medium size.

"Fortunately, the skier could be rescued without serious injuries," reports the avalanche warning service.

Above all, the fresh snow of the past few days is currently causing an increased risk of avalanches.

This could release itself as a "loose snow or slab avalanche".

The avalanche danger is significant above 1500 meters in the Chiemgau Alps, which means danger level 3.

Below that, danger level 2 applies. "Large avalanches must be expected, especially at higher altitudes in the Chiemgau and Berchtesgaden Alps," says the avalanche report.

With stable high-pressure weather, the avalanche danger will decrease again in the next few days.