WEST GERMANY: AVALANCHE DISASTER ON ZUGSPITZE -- EIGHT DEAD 40 FEARED BURIED

Record ID: 249898

  • Title: WEST GERMANY: AVALANCHE DISASTER ON ZUGSPITZE -- EIGHT DEAD 40 FEARED BURIED
  • Date: 16th May 1965
  • Summary: 1. AERIAL V DISASTER AREA WITH ZUGSPITZE (2 SHOTS). 0.13 2. GV PAN NIGHT SHOT MEN DIG. 0.24 3. CU TWO MEN LOOK ON. 0.26 4. GV PAN MEN DIG TO WRECKED CABLE CAR. 0.37 5. STV MEN DIG NEAR CABLE CAR. 0.42 6. GV DOG WITH HANDLER BOUNDS ACROSS SNOW. 0.54 7. MV MAN PROBES WITH ROD. 1.01 8. MV DOG HANDLER WITH DOG LOOKS ON. 1.05 10. MV OBSERVATION TELESCOPE OUT OF SNOW. 1.13 11. MV PAN WRECKAGE NEARBY. 1.17 12. GV MEN DIG IN DEEP CUT. 1.22 13. MV TILT DIGGERS. 1.27 14. GV TILT UP DIGGERS. 1.34 15. GTV MEN DIG. 1.39 16. MV TILT DIGGERS. 1.47 17. SV DOG WITH HANDLER MOVES AROUND SEARCHING. 1.59 18. STV DIGGING CONTINUES. 2.03 19. MV SKIS. 2.07 20. SV PAN LINE OF MEN DIGGING. 2.15 Initials JRG/S/JF/ES JRG/S/JF/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st May 1965 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ZUGSPITZE, NEAR GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, BAVARIAN ALPS, WEST GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA9HQV3VFPWB5PBGYWORWZX79Y7
  • Story Text: FORTY PEOPLE ARE FEARED BURIED BY YESTERDAY'S (SATURDAY'S) AVALANCHE OF SNOW ON A HOTEL ON THE ZUGSPITZE IN THE BAVARIAN ALPS. RESCUE WORKERS HAVE LITTLE HOPE THEY CAN BE DUG OUT ALIVE. SO FAR THE DEATH TOLL IS EIGHT. TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE WERE INJURED, MANY OF THEM SERIOUSLY.

    FREAK WEATHER OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING AND SNOWFALLS HAVE HAMPERED RESCUERS. SIX-HUNDRED ARE TAKING PART IN THE SEARCH.

    AS THE SEARCH CONTINUED, THERE WAS A THREAT OF NEW AVALANCHES IN THE AREA SOME 9,000 FEET UP (OVER 2700 METRES). ABOUT 300 PEOPLE WERE ON THE TERRACE OR SLOPE BY THE HOTEL WHEN THE AVALANCHE STRUCK.

    ONE SURVIVOR, NEIL CARTER OF ARLINGTON VIRGINIA WAS IN A DECK CHAIR WHEN THE SNOW HIT THE HOTEL AND HIM. "I TRIED TO GET OUT OF IT AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW WAS I WAS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE END AS THE SNOW THEN COMPLETELY BURIED ME." MR CARTER YELLED FOR HIS LIFE. RESCUERS HEARD HIM AND HE WAS QUICKLY DUG OUT.

    SEVEN OF THE DEAD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS GERMANS AND ANOTHER AS AN AUSTRIAN GIRL.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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