The incident prompted emphasis on avalanche safety, including the use of avalanche airbags, in guidance from the German Alpine Club.

Emergency crews continued intensive debris-field searches, with helicopters and search teams on the scene.

German soldiers and Polish mountain rescue teams were brought in to reinforce the search on unstable terrain.

Officials cautioned that further updates were expected as the situation developed.

A massive avalanche swept down Stubai Glacier near the Daunscharte pass in Austria, sweeping away skiers in an off-piste area and triggering a major emergency response.

Early reports said several people were partially buried; three more were rescued and transported to hospitals as rescuers continued the search.

Investigations indicate the avalanche was triggered by skiers in open terrain above the piste, with multiple tracks suggesting prior avalanche activity on the slope.

After electronic scanning found no additional missing persons, the operation concluded in the afternoon.

The search and rescue operation ended in the afternoon once a helicopter had overflown the area with an electronic probe and no further missing persons were reported.

Four people were lightly injured, with two flown to a hospital; earlier, nine rescued individuals had reported to authorities.

Officials described the coming hours as critical for locating anyone still buried, as searches continued amid dangerous, shifting snow and terrain.

Authorities urged season participants to avoid off-piste terrain during high-risk periods and to carry safety gear such as transceivers and airbags when traveling beyond marked runs.