Sölden mountain rescue saves 36 people in the Austrian Alps

A large-scale mountain rescue operation in the Austrian Alps successfully evacuated 36 people from three families in the Sölden region. The group, which included adults, teenagers, and several small children in strollers, became stranded at an altitude of approximately 2,325 meters near the Sonnberg area.

The hikers, who originated from Belgium, Great Britain, the United States, and Austria, had embarked on a spontaneous trek from the Wildspitzbahn mountain station. According to Tyrolean police, the group was poorly equipped and lost their way, eventually entering dangerous, unmapped terrain and deviating from marked paths.

Two rescue helicopters were deployed to assist the group. Fourteen individuals were rescued via helicopter, including four who required winch extraction from steep areas. The remaining 22 members were escorted safely back to the valley by mountain rescuers on foot. No injuries were reported during the incident, though authorities noted that the hikers will likely be responsible for the costs of the rescue operation.