Tyrol records more mountain accidents but fewer deaths

Tyrol recorded around 940 mountain accidents from May through August, about 200 more than in previous years, while mountain deaths fell to 27 from 32, ORF reported. Nearly 700 people were injured while hiking, mountaineering or climbing.

The increase also affected mountain rescue services, which carried out about 250 more operations than during the same period last year, according to state leader Ekkehard Wimmer.

Heat in the valleys and stable weather lasting for days and weeks apparently encouraged more people to go into the mountains. Most accidents were caused by slipping, tripping or medical emergencies, Wimmer said.

Climbing generally results in fewer accidents because fewer people take part in it, he added.

Although the overall number of accidents rose, fewer people died during mountain or climbing tours this summer. The statistics from the Kuratorium für Alpine Sicherheit recorded 27 deaths in Tyrol between the beginning of May and the end of August, compared with 32 during the same period last year. August saw a cluster of fatal alpine accidents.