Fifteen Dead After Alpine Avalanches Triggered by Heavy Snowfall

At least 15 people died in a series of avalanches across Austria, Italy, and Switzerland after heavy snowfall and high winds created an unstable snowpack.Tyrol Governor Anton Mattle confirmed 11 fatalities in his region alone, where over 200 avalanches occurred in one week following the accumulation of 1.5 meters of fresh snow.Jörg Randl of the Austrian Alpine Club warned that a frozen crust beneath the new powder has made off-piste skiing extremely dangerous as volatile weather patterns continue.The severe conditions have forced the closure of major roads in Lech and Zürs while leaving 29,000 homes without power in Slovenia.