Snowstorm Hits Austria: 5 Dead and Chaos on Roads and Electricity

A severe snowstorm struck Austria yesterday, leaving behind five dead and widespread chaos in transportation and significant power outages, as snow covered the country with a thick layer reaching 40 centimeters.

In detail, police announced the death of a 53-year-old man after a snowplow fell on him inside a residential complex in the city of Linz in the north of the country, in a tragic incident reflecting the severity of the weather conditions.

Four skiers also lost their lives due to avalanches in the mountainous Tyrol region, raising the number of avalanche victims in Austria since the beginning of winter to 21.

The Tyrol authorities rushed to urge skiers to avoid unprepared slopes, warning that the risk of avalanches will remain high in the coming days, as snow continues to accumulate in mountainous areas.

The storm, which began on Thursday, caused partial paralysis in several cities, especially in the southeast of the country, where widespread warnings were issued, particularly in the areas surrounding the city of Graz.

In the capital Vienna, flights were suspended throughout the morning before resuming by noon, amid ongoing delays and confusion in flight schedules.

The outer ring road (A21) was closed for hours, while parts of the highways became impassable due to snow accumulation, halted trucks, and reduced visibility, making travel more difficult.

The storm's repercussions also affected the electricity network, as energy companies reported power outages in several areas in the south and east of the country, especially in Styria, where about 30,000 homes were deprived of electricity.

The effects of the storm were not limited to Austria, as they extended to neighboring Slovenia, where about 40,000 homes were affected, and significant disruptions in infrastructure and transportation were reported in the northeast of the country, according to local media.

Authorities remain on high alert as weather warnings continue, while residents await the storm's subsiding amid fears of renewed avalanches and further disruptions to essential services.