Five off-piste skiers have died in two avalanches in Austria's Alps following heavy snowfall in the region.
An avalanche hit a group of seven skiers in the Pongau area near Salzburg, killing four and seriously injuring one on Saturday, local mountain rescue officials reported.
A similar avalanche had struck a skier earlier in the day in the same area.
Poor conditions have contributed to multiple fatalities in the Alps over the last week, intensifying concerns about skiing safety.
In the latest incidents, mountain rescue services were alerted around 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT). Four individuals were found deceased, and one suffered significant injuries.
Earlier, a female skier had been buried by an avalanche in open alpine terrain nearby.
Gerhard Kremser, the district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, expressed condolences, stating, 'Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is.'
Further avalanches were recorded in the Pongau region shortly after, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The week has seen additional tragedies related to avalanches, including the death of a 13-year-old boy in Bad Gastein and a 58-year-old man in Weerberg.
Moreover, a German man was killed in Switzerland, and four others were injured while cross-country skiing, underscoring the widespread danger of avalanches in the region.
Six other skiers also lost their lives during the same weekend in various Alpine resorts in France.
