At least 10 killed in avalanches in the mountains of Austria and Switzerland

At least ten people have died in avalanches in the mountainous areas of Austria and Switzerland over the past two days, according to a new toll from local authorities, who reported dozens of incidents over the weekend.

The previous balance accounted for eight fatalities following avalanches since Saturday.

In the case of Switzerland, on Saturday two bodies of two skiers were found – a 56-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man – who were off-piste in the canton of Graubuenden.

A third skier was unhurt, local public television reported.

The Austrian authorities also notified on Saturday the death of three people of Chinese, German and New Zealand origin, the latter aged 17, all victims of avalanches that occurred on the slopes.

On Sunday, authorities found the body of a 62-year-old skier who disappeared in Kaunerberg and two other bodies in Saint Anton am Arlberg.

Authorities also confirmed the death of a 59-year-old man who was buried while driving a snowplow in the Tyrol region.

On Saturday alone, authorities became aware of more than 30 avalanches in Tyrol, according to the ORF network.

Authorities put the alert level at four on a scale of five and urged skiers to avoid steep or potentially dangerous terrain.

In Tyrol and the neighboring area of ​​Vorarlberg, the civil protection services issued alerts due to the occurrence of wind and snowfall.

The alert level of four on a scale of five did not, however, prevent many tourists from venturing out, the authorities said.

The February school holidays have started in Vienna and the estancias have filled up after a dismal start to the season, marked by the absence of snow at low and medium altitudes.

In recent years, in Austria, a top winter sports destination, snowslides have caused an annual average of 20 deaths.