Five off-piste skiers died in two avalanches in the Austrian Alps near Salzburg on Saturday, according to the Pongau mountain rescue service. The avalanches occurred in the Pongau area following heavy snowfall in the region.

An avalanche struck a group of seven skiers, killing four and seriously injuring one, local mountain rescue officials said. This incident occurred around 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT). About an hour and a half earlier, a separate avalanche swept away a female skier in open alpine terrain in the same area, resulting in her death.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. This tragedy painfully demonstrates how serious the current avalanche situation is," said Gerhard Kremser, district head of the Pongau mountain rescue service. Further avalanches were recorded in the Pongau region around midday, but no injuries were reported in those incidents.

Poor conditions have contributed to a number of deaths in the Alps over the past week. The recent heavy snowfall has significantly increased the avalanche risk, particularly for those venturing off-piste. Off-piste skiing, while offering a sense of freedom and untouched powder, requires a high level of expertise, proper equipment, and a thorough understanding of avalanche safety.

The mountain rescue service continues to monitor the situation and urges skiers and snowboarders to exercise extreme caution and heed avalanche warnings. Authorities are also using AI-powered models to predict avalanche risks, analyzing weather patterns, snowpack data, and terrain characteristics to provide more accurate and timely warnings. These models are constantly being refined with new data and improved algorithms, representing a crucial development in avalanche safety.