Avalanches in the Austrian Alps have taken their ninth victim since the start of February with the discovery on Friday of the body of a missing Austrian hiker.

On Thursday two Austrain snow boarders, a german snowboarder and two hikers, one german and one Austrian were killed in separate incidents in the country.

The hiker discovered on Friday, aged 40, was walking in the Lackenhof am Ötscher region. More than 70 rescuers accompanied by two avalanche dogs and members of the Red Cross assisted by a helicopter were involved in the search. The victim’s brother had raised the alert on Thursday when the hiker failed to make a rendezvous.

On Friday the avalanche risk, due to heavy snowfall, was considerable (3/5).
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http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/02/05/01011-20100205FILWWW00592-autriche-9e-victime-d-avalanche.php

i was told yesterday that 5 people have died just in the Ski Amade in the past few weeks.

the snow if very dodge here

With the discovery of the body of a French skier

http://www.ledauphine.com/index.jspz?article=260539

with the death of a German skier in hospital that brings the toll to 12 fatalities in Austria since the 1/Feb/2010