2009 Schalfkogel avalanche

Six people were killed, five Czechs and one Slovak, when the disaster struck in the 3,500-metre (11,500 ft) Schalfkogel mountain range.

[2] Although avalanches are a regular occurrence in the region, they mainly kill individuals as opposed to entire groups.

[5] Authorities said the six bodies were retrieved as they ascended Schalfkogel between the ski resorts of Sölden and Obergurgl near the Italian border.

[1] It is understood four of them quickly died and froze after being buried under the snow, whilst the other two had some oxygen and survived in an unfrozen state until this became impossible.

[5] The mayor of Sölden, Ernst Schöpf, said: "It [was] clear that conditions were not right for a high-altitude tour on Saturday.