According to foreign media reports, with the increasing snow in the Alps, parts of Switzerland and Austria are currently at extremely high risk of avalanches. Some winter sports resorts have fallen into isolation. Snow sports enthusiasts who want to travel there should think twice. In Japan, the eruption caused an avalanche, which caused casualties.
Most of the Alps are at risk of avalanches
Current avalanche warnings have reportedly reached the highest level in much of the Alps. Due to strong snowfall, the likelihood of an avalanche is increasing. Experts in Switzerland and Austria warn that due to the higher temperatures, snowfall up to 2,000 meters above sea level is in the form of sleet, which makes the snow more loose.
Experts at the Davos Avalanche Institute have previously said it is necessary to prepare for a massive avalanche in many parts of Switzerland. At the same time, the situation in Austria is not optimistic. Avalanche warnings have been raised to their highest levels in parts of the Tyrolean Mountains. Road and rail traffic has been disrupted in many parts of Austria and Switzerland, including Zermatt and Andermatt, Switzerland, known for their winter sports, and St. Anton and Galty, Austria.
Switzerland has 3 metres of snow in a week
Christine Pielmeier of the Avalanche Institute in Davos said snow fell as much as 3 metres in a week in parts of southern Switzerland. The local snow cover has reached its highest level since 1999.
The places where avalanche dangers are highest include a large area of Switzerland from west to east. "Avalanches can affect large areas," the Davos Avalanche Institute said, "exposed settlements and traffic roads (on avalanche paths) are mostly at risk." Experts also warned against snow sports outside of safe ski trails.
Germany suffered many casualties
A similar situation is observed in the Alps of Germany. The German Meteorological Service and the Bavarian Avalanche Warning Centre have said that another avalanche disaster is not ruled out. The current avalanche alert level is level four, with the highest level being five. On the 21st, there were already many avalanches in the Upper Bavarian Alps. A man was rescued from an avalanche and taken to hospital, but has since died. Three other avalanches also injured many people.
Japanese volcanic eruptions: Avalanches kill soldiers
In Japan, avalanches also cause casualties. The Kusatsu Shiragan Volcano in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, erupted, triggering an avalanche that killed a soldier who was practicing snow with his companions in the area. The eruption also erupted massive amounts of dust and stones, breaking the glass of a cable car' carriage, injuring ten passengers, one of whom was severely injured.
Japanese authorities warned that large amounts of volcanic ash rain could continue to occur in the area and raised warning levels to prevent tourists from traveling to Gunma Prefecture, which is near Tokyo. Although the government dispatched self-defense forces to help with the rescue, the rescue work was slow due to poor weather conditions. About 100 tourists stranded at the local ski resort were taken to a hotel to avoid being hit by stones.