Two missing after avalanche in Austria on Christmas Day

One person was rescued while emergency services continue their search

Some 200 people have been involved in the search of the missing skiers (APA/AFP via Getty Images)

Rescue workers are searching for two missing people after an avalanche swept across ski trails in Austria on Christmas Day.

Initially, up to 10 people were feared missing based on a video provided by a witness, but eight of those individuals have been identified and were no longer feared buried, a spokesperson of the rescue team said.

About 200 rescue workers searched the avalanche site near the town of Zuers. One of those rescued was injured and flown to a hospital in Innsbruck. Another was hurt but was able to free himself and go to another hospital, regional security councillor Christian Gantner told APA, the national news agency.

The avalanche occurred at around 1500 local time [1400 GMT] on the 2,700m-high Trittkopf mountain between Zuers and Lech am Arlberg. It followed days of snow in the high alpine region and unseasonably warm weather on Christmas Day.

The local mountain rescue service had rated the avalanche danger as “high”. Officials said one person could be recovered quickly.

Searchlights were set up on the snow mass to continue the search after darkness fell, and dogs were being used to try to find the missing.

The search would continue “all night if we have to”, Lech-Zuers tourism director Hermann Fercher said during an interview on ORF Austrian public television.