An avalanche struck a train travelling in the Swiss Alps near Goppenstein, injuring five people, as heavy snowfall continues to trigger deadly snow slides across the region, as per a report by The Guardian. Authorities said large parts of the western Alps remain under category 5 avalanche risk, the highest warning level under the European system.
Swiss police confirmed that the snow slide hit the train on Monday, causing it to derail near the southern town of Goppenstein. Emergency services responded to the scene and treated five injured passengers.The incident follows a series of fatal avalanches in France and Italy. On Friday, three skiers, including two British nationals, died in an avalanche in Val d’Isère in south-east France, according to The Guardian. A French skier who was skiing alone was also killed. Prosecutor Benoît Bachelet said the ski instructor with the group avoided injury and tested negative after blood and drug tests. Another British skier suffered minor injuries.
On Sunday, two skiers were killed in an avalanche on the Italian side of Mont Blanc in the Couloir Vesses area near Courmayeur.
Italy’s Alpine Rescue service reported that 13 off-piste skiers, climbers and hikers died in the week ending 8 February, including 10 in avalanches caused by unstable snow conditions.
Highest risk warning in place Under the European avalanche warning system, category 5 risk is classified as “extraordinary” and indicates the likelihood of numerous large natural avalanches that can threaten roads and settlements.
Recent storms brought between 60cm and 100cm of snow to parts of the Alps, with further snowfall reported. Rescue officials said strong winds and fresh snow have created unstable layers on an already weak snowpack.
Federico Catania, spokesperson for Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps, said, “Under such conditions, the passage of a single skier, or natural overloading from the weight of snow, can be sufficient to trigger an avalanche.”
Authorities have closed roads, issued evacuation orders in some areas and advised skiers and mountaineers to avoid high-risk slopes as dangerous conditions persist.