Five Hikers Injured In Avalanche On Säntis Mountain In Switzerland
Säntis Mountain, Switzerland – At approximately 3 PM on Saturday, July 9, 2016 five hikers were injured in an avalanche while climbing Säntis Mountain (2,502 meters) on the Alpstein massif in the canton of Appenzell in northeastern Switzerland.
The hikers were climbing in two groups of four and six when the avalanche came down. It dragged five of the hikers 80 to 100 meters down the slope. Three of the five hikers were severely injured in the accident. Authorities were notified and three helicopters responded with rescuers. The injured parties were taken to hospitals in the surrounding region. All parties were adults.
Appenzell24.ch reports that the avalanche occurred “about 50 meters below the dissolved Hüenerbergsattel, above the mountain trail Oerli-Höchnideri-Säntis.” It was “two feet high, four to five meters wide and ten meters long snow / debris avalanche.” Recent high temperatures may have caused the avalanche.
Säntis Mountain sits at 2,502 meters above sea level. It is the highest mountain in the Alpstein massif and the 13th most prominent peak in the Alps.
