Two Belgians killed in Austrian avalanche

Two Belgian skiers were killed in an avalanche in western Austria over the weekend, emergency services said yesterday.

The men, aged 41 and 54, were ski touring with 10 other people on Sunday in Kleinwalsertal in western Vorarlberg province when they were caught in an avalanche.

The 41-year-old was found dead soon afterwards but difficult conditions forced rescue services to postpone their search for the second man until yesterday. His body was located mid-afternoon.

The group had been on a particularly steep slope which meant that rescue teams and avalanche dogs had to be flown in and only reached the site after abseiling down the mountain, emergency services said.

The 10 survivors were evacuated by helicopter on Sunday.

Local mayor Werner Strohmaier told the Austria Press Agency that the skiers had been reckless. "The slope was impracticable, no local would have gone there," he said.

Avalanche warning levels are moderately high in much of Austria.