Salzburg mountain rescue nears annual record with 725 callouts

Salzburg’s mountain rescue service has responded to 725 emergencies since the start of the year, 75 more than during the same period last year, ORF reported on Sunday. The service expects the total could set a new annual record.

Falls were the most common cause of callouts, followed by exhaustion and medical emergencies. Numerous avalanches in spring and alpine emergencies in summer contributed to the increase, the service said.

The hot summer also brought many emergencies. In several cases, people set out too late, lacked the fitness needed for their outings or had planned their routes poorly. The service also cited overconfidence and urged people to plan mountain trips carefully.

From January to October, 31 people were recovered from the mountains dead. About 300 injured people were taken to hospital, while 310 people were rescued without injuries. Mountain rescuers logged 11,129 hours on operations, with 4,636 rescuers involved.

The current record is 793 callouts, set in 2019.