Avanlanche rips through Polish Tatra mountains, killing one

One woman has died and one is suffering from acute hypothermia after an avalanche swept through the Wielka Świstówka cirque in the Western Tatras on Saturday night.

The avalanche caught four people on a caving course in the mountains. Two members of the group were saved by TOPR rescuers from under the snow without sustaining major injuries.

However, one 30-year-old died despite resuscitation attempts by TOPR rescuers, while another was transported to Zakopane, from where she was taken to the Centre for the Treatment of Hypothermia in the provincial capital, Kraków.

There are no hiking trails in the region where the avalanche came down, altough people participating on alpine courses are permitted to be in the area.

Currently there is a ‘Level 2 Moderate’ danger of avalanche in the Tatras, although sunny weather and a strong Halny foehn wind on Saturday made the snow heavy and increased the risk of an avalanche.