Galtür

Galtür (1586m) is a village and ski resort in the upper Paznaun valley in Tyrol (Austria) with a population of about 830 inhabitants (2003) close to the border of Vorarlberg and Switzerland. Galtür became an international media event in 1999, when a huge avalanche destroyed parts of the village and killed 31 people (February, 23). Due to continuing danger of avalanches some thousands of tourists had to be evacuated from Galtür and nearby Ischgl via air-lift for which the Austrian government asked for international help. Military and civil helicopters from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and the U.S. were engaged in one of the biggest rescue operations of Austria's near history.

For full story of the avalanche please see Galtur Avalanche.