Upper Austria mountain rescue expects record year

Upper Austria’s mountain rescue service is on course for a record year, with a sharp rise in call-outs, ORF reports. September saw 40 percent more alerts than a year earlier, following a record number of operations in July.

The service has already responded to 33 incidents in October, before the autumn holidays began. That matches the total for the whole of October 2025. Last year, it handled more than 700 operations involving around 740 people. It is still slightly below that number this year, though the year is not over, state leader Christoph Preimesberger said.

The number of fatal mountain accidents is also approaching last year’s total. There were 10 in 2025 and nine so far this year, Preimesberger said.

People often get into difficulty after losing their way or taking the wrong route. Rescue teams are also increasingly called to people who cannot continue because of anxiety, including on via ferratas or exposed terrain.

The service is concerned that many recreational hikers and athletes are not adequately equipped. Snow is already present at higher elevations, making paths and trail markers harder to see. Earlier darkness after the clock change can also catch people without lights, leaving them unable to continue safely.

Mountain rescue officials urge people to call the alpine emergency number 140 as soon as they encounter problems, warning that waiting too long can put them at unnecessary risk.